Science
I am a neuroscientist currently conducting research in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University. My work primarily addresses the etiological processes of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Specifically, I use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the brain mechanisms underlying the pain response and avoidance learning in those with AUD. I believe these two processes play a critical role in the development and maintenance of the disorder.
In Feb 2022, my work was awarded the NIH’s Pathway to Independence grant (K99/R00). During this 5-year project, I plan to identify the pain-related neural and psychophysiological markers that can (1) be used for accurate diagnosis and subtyping of AUD, and (2) predict changes in drinking behavior in a longitudinal setting.
During my doctoral training at Stony Brook University (Leung lab), I studied the disruptions of working memory processing in major depressive disorder, both at the sensory (visual) and executive control (prefrontal) levels. Affective dysregulation continues to be a part of my research.
I actively look for collaborators from different backgrounds including clinical neuroscience, pain, reinforcement learning, quantitative modeling, and machine learning. Please feel free to get in touch with me if you would like to learn more about my work.
My CV (updated Sep, 2024).
Publications
Le T. M., Oba T., Couch L., McInerney L., Li CSR (2024). Neural correlates of proactive avoidance deficits and alcohol use motives in problem drinking. Translational Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03039-y
Le T. M., Oba T., Couch L., McInerney L., Li CSR (2024). The neural correlates of individual differences in reinforcement learning during pain avoidance and reward seeking. eNeuro, DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0437-23.2024
Le T. M., Malone T., Li CSR (2022). Positive Alcohol Expectancy and Resting-state Functional Connectivity of the Insula in Problem Drinking. Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Le T. M., Chen Y., Chaudhary, S., Li CSR (2021). Problem drinking and the interaction of reward, negative emotion, and cognitive control circuits during cue-elicited craving. Addiction Neuroscience, (1), 100004, 1-11. DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2021.100004
Le T. M., Potvin S., Zhornitsky S., Li CSR (2021). Distinct patterns of prefrontal cortical disengagement during inhibitory control in addiction: A meta-analysis based on population characteristics. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 127, 255-69. DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.04.028
Le T. M., Wang W., Zhornitsky S., Dhingra I., Chen Y., Zhang S., Li CSR (2021). The neural processes interlinking social isolation, social support, and problem alcohol use. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyaa086
Le T. M., Huang A. S., O’Rawe J., Leung, H-C. (2020). Functional neural network configuration in late childhood varies by age and cognitive state. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 45, DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2020.100862
Le T. M., Zhornitsky S., Wang, W., Li CSR (2020). Perceived Burdensomeness and Neural Responses to Ostracism in the Cyberball Task. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 130, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.06.015
Le T. M., Zhornitsky S., Zhang S., Li CSR (2020). Pain and reward circuits antagonistically modulate alcohol expectancy to regulate drinking. Translational Psychiatry. 10(220). DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-00909-z
Le T. M., Chao H., Levy I., Li CSR (2020), Age-Related Changes in the Neural Processes of Reward-Directed Action and Inhibition of Action. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1121
Le T. M., Ding-Lieh L., Ide J., Zhang S., Zhornitsky S., Wang W., Li CSR. (2020). The interrelationship of body mass index with gray matter volume and resting-state functional connectivity of the hypothalamus. International Journal of Obesity. DOI: 10.1038/s41366-019-0496-8
Le T. M., Wang W., Zhornitsky S., Dhingra I., Zhang S., Li CSR. (2020). Interdependent neural correlates of reward and punishment sensitivity during rewarded action and inhibition of action. Cerebral Cortex, 30(3) 1662–1676. DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz194
Le T. M., Zhang S., Zhornitsky S., Wang W., Li CSR. (2020). Neural correlates of reward-directed action and inhibition of action. Cortex. 123, 42-56, DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2019.10.007
Le T. M., Zhornitsky S., Wang W., Ide J. S., Li CSR. (2019). Posterior cingulate cortical activity during active avoidance mediates the relationship between punishment sensitivity and problem drinking. Journal of Neuroscience, 39 (32) 6354-6364, DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0508-19.2019
Le T. M., Zhornitsky S., Wang W., Zhang S., Li CSR. (2019). Problem drinking alters gray matter volume and food cue responses of the lateral orbitofrontal cortex. Addiction Biology. DOI: 10.1111/adb.12857
Le T. M., Wang W., Zhornitsky S., Dhingra I., Zhang S., Li CSR. (2019). Reward sensitivity and electrodermal responses to actions and outcomes in a go/no-go task. PLOS One, 14(7): e0219147. DOI: 1371/journal.pone.0219147
Le T. M., Borghi A. J., Kujawa A. J., Klein D. N., Leung, H-C., (2017). Alterations in visual cortical activation and connectivity with prefrontal cortex during working memory updating in major depressive disorder, NeuroImage: Clinical, 14, 43-53. DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.01.004