Andrey Anokhin, Ph.D.

DEPARTMENT OF Psychiatry
Keywords: behavior, genetics, psychopharmacology, addiction

My research is primarily focused on the following interrelated areas: 1) genetics of individual differences in neurocognitive functioning; 2) association between neurocognitive characteristics, temperament, and risk for substance use disorders; and 3) individual differences in acute response to substances of abuse such as nicotine and alcohol. Genetic influences on human behavior, both normal and abnormal, are well documented; however, neural and cognitive processes mediating these genetic influences are poorly understood. The main goal of my research is to elucidate the mechanisms and pathways by which genetic factors, including specific genes, influence human behavior and confer risk for psychopathology. Methods used in my lab include quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) and brain event-related potentials (ERPs) recorded in a variety of cognitive tasks, such as Go-NoGo (response inhibition), gambling (processing of the signals of reward and punishment), flanker task (action monitoring and error-related activity), sensory gating (P50 potential), sensorimotor gating (prepulse inhibition of the startle response), affective pictures (processing of emotional information), and emotion-modulated startle response. Our research paradigms emphasize executive cognitive control of behavior mediated by prefrontal cortex. In addition, we use a set of neuropsychological and behavioral tests to assess different aspects of decision making and risk taking, as well as personality assessments. We also conduct structured diagnostic telephone interviews to assess substance use behaviors and symptoms of psychopathology. Finally, we collect blood samples for genotyping. In some of our studies conducted with adult volunteers we are looking at the acute effects of alcohol, cigarette smoking, and nicotine deprivation in regular smokers. The goal of these studies is to determine how individual differences in response to substances of abuse are related to familial risk for alcoholism and/or nicotine dependence. Our research participants include adult and adolescent twins, as well as non-twin subjects.