Translational human neuroscience of major mental disorders
Dr. Pearlson's research interests include: 1. The role of mood and psychosis vulnerability genes in the brain as demonstrated through electrophysiology, cognition, fMRI BOLD activation patterns, DTI connectivity measures and structural MRI volumes. 2. The psychopharmacology of abused substances, studied via effects on brain imaging and cognition, including explorations of effects of cannabinoids, cocaine and alcohol and the relationship of impulsivity to substance abuse. Dr. Pearlson’s research uses neuroimaging as a tool to address a broad array of questions regarding the neurobiology of major mental disorders, primarily psychosis and substance abuse. Important firsts in his research include showing that structural and functional brain changes associated with schizophrenia also occur in psychotic bipolar disorder, the relationship of structural and functional abnormalities in the superior temporal gyrus associated with hallucinations in schizophrenia, exploring complex behaviors in the MRI scanner (for example simulated driving) to quantify disruptive effects of abused substances and the first demonstration of human in-vivo cocaine-mediated dopamine release using PET ligands.