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    Professor Barbara Sahakian FMedSci DSc

    University Position
    Professor

    Interests

    My research is aimed at understanding the neural basis of cognitive, emotional and behavioural dysfunction in order to develop more effective pharmacological and psychological treatments. The focus of my lab is on early detection, differential diagnosis and proof of concept studies using cognitive enhancing drugs. This research utilises neuropsychological tests, such as the CANTAB tests, which I co-invented and a focus remains on the development of novel tests. Current study participants include healthy volunteers and patient groups with brain injury, Alzheimer?s disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder, substance abuse, depression and mania. Techniques used include psychopharmacological, neuropsychological, neuroimaging (fMRI and PET) and genetic ones. Results from recent studies of ecstasy use and cognitive enhancement using methylphenidate, modafinil and atomoxetine have led to an interest in pharmacogenomics and neuroethics.

    Key Publications

    Serotonin depletion impairs both Pavlovian and instrumental reversal learning in healthy humans

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.26.062463
    Journal:
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2020
    Authors: J Kanen, A Apergis-Schoute, R Yellowlees, F Arntz, F van der Flier, A Price, R Cardinal, D Christmas, L Clark, B Sahakian, M Crockett, T Robbins

    Dissociable effects of acute SSRI (escitalopram) on executive, learning and emotional functions in healthy humans.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-018-0229-z
    Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology
    E-pub date: 1 Dec 2018
    Authors: N Skandali, JB Rowe, V Voon, JB Deakin, RN Cardinal, F Cormack, L Passamonti, WR Bevan-Jones, R Regenthal, SR Chamberlain, TW Robbins, BJ Sahakian

    The profile of executive function in OCD hoarders and hoarding disorder.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2013.12.026
    Journal: Psychiatry Research
    E-pub date: 30 Mar 2014
    Authors: S Morein-Zamir, M Papmeyer, A Pertusa, SR Chamberlain, NA Fineberg, BJ Sahakian, D Mataix-Cols, TW Robbins

    Publications

    Chronic escitalopram in healthy volunteers has specific effects on reinforcement sensitivity: a double-blind, placebo-controlled semi-randomised study.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-022-01523-x
    Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology
    E-pub date: 1 Mar 2023
    Authors: C Langley, S Armand, Q Luo, G Savulich, T Segerberg, A Søndergaard, EB Pedersen, N Svart, O Overgaard-Hansen, A Johansen, C Borgsted, RN Cardinal, TW Robbins, DS Stenbæk, GM Knudsen, BJ Sahakian

    Effect of tryptophan depletion on conditioned threat memory expression: role of intolerance of uncertainty

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.26.062505
    Journal:
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2020
    Authors: J Kanen, F Arntz, R Yellowlees, D Christmas, A Price, A Apergis-Schoute, B Sahakian, R Cardinal, T Robbins

    Probabilistic reversal learning under acute tryptophan depletion in healthy humans: a conventional analysis.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0269881120907991
    Journal: J Psychopharmacol
    E-pub date: 1 May 2020
    Authors: JW Kanen, FE Arntz, R Yellowlees, RN Cardinal, A Price, DM Christmas, BJ Sahakian, AM Apergis-Schoute, TW Robbins

    Dopaminergic modulation of reinforcement learning in stimulant drug addiction

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.09.191
    Journal: EUROPEAN NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2019
    Authors: TV Lim, RN Cardinal, C Meng, GK Murray, KJ Craig, S Abbott, SS Shabbir, J Suckling, BJ Sahakian, ET Bullmore, TW Robbins, KD Ersche

    Novel Smartphone Interventions Improve Cognitive Flexibility and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms in Individuals with Contamination Fears.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-33142-2
    Journal: Sci Rep
    E-pub date: 23 Oct 2018
    Authors: B Jalal, A Brühl, C O'Callaghan, T Piercy, RN Cardinal, VS Ramachandran, BJ Sahakian

    Methylphenidate-mediated motor control network enhancement in patients with traumatic brain injury.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2018.1469166
    Journal: Brain Inj
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2018
    Authors: CL Dorer, AE Manktelow, J Allanson, BJ Sahakian, JD Pickard, A Bateman, DK Menon, EA Stamatakis

    Spectral Diversity in Default Mode Network Connectivity Reflects Behavioral State.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_01213
    Journal: J Cogn Neurosci
    E-pub date: 1 Apr 2018
    Authors: MM Craig, AE Manktelow, BJ Sahakian, DK Menon, EA Stamatakis

    Angular default mode network connectivity across working memory load.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.23341
    Journal: Hum Brain Mapp
    E-pub date: 1 Jan 2017
    Authors: D Vatansever, AE Manktelow, BJ Sahakian, DK Menon, EA Stamatakis

    Atomoxetine restores the response inhibition network in Parkinson’s disease.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/brain/aww138
    Journal: Brain
    E-pub date: 31 Aug 2016
    Authors: CL Rae, C Nombela, PV Rodríguez, Z Ye, LE Hughes, PS Jones, T Ham, T Rittman, I Coyle-Gilchrist, R Regenthal, BJ Sahakian, RA Barker, TW Robbins, JB Rowe

    Depression following traumatic brain injury: A functional connectivity perspective.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2016.1186839
    Journal: Brain Inj
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2016
    Authors: L Moreno-López, BJ Sahakian, A Manktelow, DK Menon, EA Stamatakis

    Carrots and sticks fail to change behavior in cocaine addiction.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaf3700
    Journal: Science
    E-pub date: 17 Jun 2016
    Authors: KD Ersche, CM Gillan, PS Jones, GB Williams, LHE Ward, M Luijten, S de Wit, BJ Sahakian, ET Bullmore, TW Robbins

    Cognitive Flexibility: A Default Network and Basal Ganglia Connectivity Perspective.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1089/brain.2015.0388
    Journal: Brain Connect
    E-pub date: 1 Apr 2016
    Authors: D Vatansever, AE Manktelow, BJ Sahakian, DK Menon, EA Stamatakis

    Predicting beneficial effects of atomoxetine and citalopram on response inhibition in Parkinson’s disease with clinical and neuroimaging measures.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.23087
    Journal: Hum Brain Mapp
    E-pub date: 1 Mar 2016
    Authors: Z Ye, CL Rae, C Nombela, T Ham, T Rittman, PS Jones, PV Rodríguez, I Coyle-Gilchrist, R Regenthal, E Altena, CR Housden, H Maxwell, BJ Sahakian, RA Barker, TW Robbins, JB Rowe

    Dynamic Changes in White Matter Abnormalities Correlate With Late Improvement and Deterioration Following TBI: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/1545968315584004
    Journal: Neurorehabil Neural Repair
    E-pub date: 1 Jan 2016
    Authors: VFJ Newcombe, MM Correia, C Ledig, MG Abate, JG Outtrim, D Chatfield, T Geeraerts, AE Manktelow, E Garyfallidis, JD Pickard, BJ Sahakian, PJA Hutchinson, D Rueckert, JP Coles, GB Williams, DK Menon

    Default Mode Dynamics for Global Functional Integration.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2135-15.2015
    Journal: J Neurosci
    E-pub date: 18 Nov 2015
    Authors: D Vatansever, DK Menon, AE Manktelow, BJ Sahakian, EA Stamatakis

    Default mode network connectivity during task execution.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.07.053
    Journal: Neuroimage
    E-pub date: 15 Nov 2015
    Authors: D Vatansever, DK Menon, AE Manktelow, BJ Sahakian, EA Stamatakis

    Semi-Metric Topology of the Human Connectome: Sensitivity and Specificity to Autism and Major Depressive Disorder.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136388
    Journal: PLoS One
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2015
    Authors: T Simas, S Chattopadhyay, C Hagan, P Kundu, A Patel, R Holt, D Floris, J Graham, C Ooi, R Tait, M Spencer, S Baron-Cohen, B Sahakian, E Bullmore, I Goodyer, J Suckling

    Effects of oxytocin on attention to emotional faces in healthy volunteers and highly socially anxious males.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyu012
    Journal: Int J Neuropsychopharmacol
    E-pub date: 31 Oct 2014
    Authors: R Clark-Elford, PJ Nathan, B Auyeung, K Mogg, BP Bradley, A Sule, U Müller, RB Dudas, BJ Sahakian, S Baron-Cohen

    Counterfactual processing of economic action-outcome alternatives in obsessive-compulsive disorder: further evidence of impaired goal-directed behavior.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.01.018
    Journal: Biological Psychiatry
    E-pub date: 15 Apr 2014
    Authors: CM Gillan, S Morein-Zamir, M Kaser, NA Fineberg, A Sule, BJ Sahakian, RN Cardinal, TW Robbins

    Enhanced avoidance habits in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.02.002
    Journal: Biological Psychiatry
    E-pub date: 15 Apr 2014
    Authors: CM Gillan, S Morein-Zamir, GP Urcelay, A Sule, V Voon, AM Apergis-Schoute, NA Fineberg, BJ Sahakian, TW Robbins

    The effects of oxytocin on social reward learning in humans.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1017/S1461145713001120
    Journal: Int J Neuropsychopharmacol
    E-pub date: 1 Feb 2014
    Authors: R Clark-Elford, PJ Nathan, B Auyeung, V Voon, A Sule, U Müller, R Dudas, BJ Sahakian, KL Phan, S Baron-Cohen

    Investigation of attentional bias in obsessive compulsive disorder with and without depression in visual search.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0080118
    Journal: PLoS One
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2013
    Authors: S Morein-Zamir, M Papmeyer, A Durieux, NA Fineberg, BJ Sahakian, TW Robbins

    Punishment promotes response control deficits in obsessive-compulsive disorder: evidence from a motivational go/no-go task.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291712001018
    Journal: Psychol Med
    E-pub date: 1 Feb 2013
    Authors: S Morein-Zamir, M Papmeyer, CM Gillan, MJ Crockett, NA Fineberg, BJ Sahakian, TW Robbins

    Disruption in the balance between goal-directed behavior and habit learning in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.10071062
    Journal: Am J Psychiatry
    E-pub date: 1 Jul 2011
    Authors: CM Gillan, M Papmeyer, S Morein-Zamir, BJ Sahakian, NA Fineberg, TW Robbins, S de Wit

    Hippocampal dysfunction in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a functional neuroimaging study of a visuospatial paired associates learning task.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.03.037
    Journal: Neuropsychologia
    E-pub date: 1 Jun 2011
    Authors: M de Rover, VA Pironti, JA McCabe, J Acosta-Cabronero, FS Arana, S Morein-Zamir, JR Hodges, TW Robbins, PC Fletcher, PJ Nestor, BJ Sahakian

    Neuroethical issues in cognitive enhancement.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0269881109106926
    Journal: J Psychopharmacol
    E-pub date: 1 Feb 2011
    Authors: BJ Sahakian, S Morein-Zamir

    Impaired visuospatial associative memory and attention in obsessive compulsive disorder but no evidence for differential dopaminergic modulation.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-010-1963-z
    Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl)
    E-pub date: 1 Oct 2010
    Authors: S Morein-Zamir, KJ Craig, KD Ersche, S Abbott, U Muller, NA Fineberg, ET Bullmore, BJ Sahakian, TW Robbins

    Neuroethics and public engagement training needed for neuroscientists.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2009.10.007
    Journal: Trends Cogn Sci
    E-pub date: 1 Feb 2010
    Authors: S Morein-Zamir, BJ Sahakian

    Inhibition of thoughts and actions in obsessive-compulsive disorder: extending the endophenotype?

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1017/S003329170999033X
    Journal: Psychol Med
    E-pub date: 1 Feb 2010
    Authors: S Morein-Zamir, NA Fineberg, TW Robbins, BJ Sahakian

    Neuroscientists need neuroethics teaching.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1126/science.325_147a
    Journal: Science
    E-pub date: 10 Jul 2009
    Authors: BJ Sahakian, S Morein-Zamir

    Professor’s little helper.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/4501157a
    Journal: Nature
    E-pub date: 20 Dec 2007
    Authors: B Sahakian, S Morein-Zamir

    A review of the effects of modafinil on cognition in schizophrenia.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbm090
    Journal: Schizophr Bull
    E-pub date: 1 Nov 2007
    Authors: S Morein-Zamir, DC Turner, BJ Sahakian

    Lack of deleterious effects of buspirone on cognition in healthy male volunteers.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0269881107068066
    Journal: J Psychopharmacol
    E-pub date: 1 Mar 2007
    Authors: SR Chamberlain, U Müller, JB Deakin, PR Corlett, J Dowson, RN Cardinal, MRF Aitken, TW Robbins, BJ Sahakian

    Impaired cognition and decision-making in bipolar depression but no ‘affective bias’ evident.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291705006689
    Journal: Psychol Med
    E-pub date: 1 May 2006
    Authors: JS Rubinsztein, A Michael, BR Underwood, M Tempest, BJ Sahakian

    Decision making and neuropsychiatry.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/s1364-6613(00)01650-8
    Journal: Trends Cogn Sci
    E-pub date: 1 Jun 2001
    Authors: S Rahman, B J Sahakia, R N Cardinal, R Rogers, T Robbins