WELCOME
TO
THE HEALTH
NEUROSCIENCE
CENTER
We are focused on integrating cognitive neuroscience, genetics, AI and clinical research to accelerate the discovery of new treatments for drug addiction in order to improve mental health and well-being.
RESEARCH STUDIES
Reference Study
The current study seeks to utilize functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the neural mechanisms underlying decision-making and adaptive responses to emotional information among a sample of adults who are currently not using nicotine, cannabis or illicit drugs. Eligible participants between the ages of 18-65 will undergo one fMRI scan and perform computerized cognitive tasks. Total time of participation is approximately 4 hours across 2 visits. Compensation is provided.
Research on the effects of Theta-burst Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Nicotine Use
This study will examine the effects of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) on cognitive control in adults who smoke cigarettes, and to determine if the location where cTBS is delivered may help smokers reduce or quit smoking. Participation in the study will take 3-weeks over 4 visits, with a total time commitment of approximately 12 hours. During the study, participants will undergo a total of 4 fMRI scans and 3 cTBS treatment sessions. Compensation provided.
PUBLICATIONS
Recent
Shay, D., Cam, Y., Brown, J., Burkle, K., Marquis, S., Froeliger, B., Will, M.J., Vieira-Potter, V. (2026). Direct Intra-Accumbens 17 Beta Estradiol Administration Increases Voluntary Wheel Running in Ovariectomized Rats. Neuroendocrinology. PMID: 41518633.
Steele et al., (2025). Toward Inclusive, Evidence-Based rTMS Care for Patients with Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders. Letter to the Editor. American Journal of Psychiatry. PMID: Pending.
Cofresi, R.U., Upton, S., Terry, D., Brown, A.A., Piasecki, T.M., Bartholow, B.D., Froeliger, B. (2025). Inhibitory control in the sober state as a function of alcohol sensitivity: A pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. PMID: 40092652.
Garland, E.L, Hudak, J., Hanley, A.W., Bernat, E., Froeliger, B. (2025). Positive Emotion Dysregulation in Opioid Use Disorder and Normalization by Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement. JAMA Psychiatry. PMID: 40305010
Upton, S., Froeliger, B. (2025). Regulation of Craving and Underlying Resting-State Neural Circuit Functional Connectivity are Associated with Smoking Lapse. Translational Psychiatry. PMID: 40148270.
Jones, S., Alberg, A.J., Wallace, K., Froeliger, B., Carpenter, M.J., Wolf, B.J. (2025). CHRNA5-A3-B4, CYP2A6, and DBH genetic associations with smoking cessation throughout adulthood within two longitudinal studies of women. Nicotine and Tobacco Research. PMID: 39673390.
Sahlem GL, Dowdle LT, Baker NL, Sherman BJ, Gray KM, McRae-Clark AL, Froeliger B, Squeglia LM. (2025). Exploring the Utility of a Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Cannabis Cue-Reactivity Paradigm in Treatment Seeking Adults with Cannabis Use Disorder. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. PMID 39326740.
2024
Smith, A., Azeem, M., Odhiambo, C.O., Wright, P.J., Diktas, H.E., Upton, S., Martin, C.K., Froeliger, B., Corbett, C.F., Valafar, H. (accepted). Toward Concurrent Identification of Human Activities with a Single Unifying Neural Network Classification: First Step. Sensors. PMID: Pending
Cofresi, R.U., Upton, S., Brown, A.A., Piasecki, T.M., Bartholow, B.D., Froeliger, B. (2024). Mesocorticolimbic system node reactivity to alcohol use-related visual cues as a function of alcohol sensitivity phenotype: a pilot fMRI study. Addiction Neuroscience. PMID: 38938269.
Garland, E.L., Nakamura, Y., Brian, C.J., Hanley, A.W., Parisi, A., Froeliger, B., Marchand, W.R., & Donaldson, G.W. (2024). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for veterans and military personnel on long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain: A randomized clinical trial. American Journal of Psychiatry. PMID: 38196335
Jones, S., Wolf, B.J., Wallace, K., Froeliger, B., Carpenter, M.J., Alberg, A.J. (accepted). Single nucleotide polymorphisms within DRD2, COMT, and DBH and smoking cessation: A systematic review considering genetic differences by ancestry and biological sex. Current Addiction Reports.
Massey, Z.B., Hammond, D., Froeliger, B. (2024). A Narrative Systematic Review of Cannabis Health Warning Research. Preventative Medicine Reports. PMID: 38222305
Rolbiecki, AJ, Froeliger, B., Smith, J., Ying, J., Canfield, SM., Posley, K., Polniak, M., & Dotson, D. (2024). Virtual Reality and Neurofeedback as a supportive approach to managing cancer symptoms for patients receiving treatment: A brief report of a feasibility trial. Palliative and Supportive Care. PMID: 38454804
Rolbiecki, A., Froeliger, B., Ying, J. (2024). Virtual Reality and Neurofeedback: An Innovative Approach for Managing Cancer Symptoms (RP102). Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Volume 67, Issue 5, e803 - e804
2023
Brown, A., Cofresi, R., Froeliger, B. (2023). Associations between the Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (WISDM-68) and Regional Brain Volumes in Adult Smokers. Nicotine and Tobacco Research. PMID: 37338201
Brown, A., Upton, S., Craig, S., Froeliger, B. (2023). Associations Between Right Inferior Frontal Gyrus Morphometry and Cognitive Control in Individuals with Nicotine Dependence. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. PMID: 36640686
Garland, E.L., Fix, S., Hudak, J.M., Bernat, E., Nakamura, Y. Hanley, A.W., Donaldson, G.W., Marchand, W., & Froeliger, B. (2023). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement remediates anhedonia in chronic opioid use by enhancing neurophysiological responses during savoring of natural rewards. Psychological Medicine. PMID: 37310337
Jones, S., Alberg, A.J., Wallace, K., Froeliger, B., Carpenter, M.J., Wolf, B.J. (2023). CHRNA5-A3-B4 and DRD2 genes and smoking cessation throughout adulthood: A longitudinal study of women. Nicotine and Tobacco Research. Feb 16;ntad026. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntad026. PMID: 36794842.
Jones, S., Alberg, A.J., Wallace, K., Froeliger, B., Carpenter, M.J., Wolf, B.J. (2023). Genetic associations with cigarette smoking relapse and proportion of follow-up in smoking relapse throughout adulthood in pre- and post-menopausal women. Cancer Prevention Research. Apr 13;OF1-OF12. PMID: 37070666.
Palmer, A.M., Carpenter, M.J., Baker, N.L., Froeliger, B., Foster, M.G., Garland, E.L., Saladin, M.E., Toll, B.A (2023). Development of Two Novel Treatments to Promote Smoking Cessation: Savor and Retrieval Extinction Training Pilot Clinical Trial Findings. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology. Mar 13. doi: 10.1037/pha0000644. PMID: 36913266.
Parisi, A., Hudak J., Froeliger, B., & Garland, E.L. (2023). Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement reduces posttraumatic stress by enhancing reappraisal among chronic pain patients with co-occurring opioid misuse. Nature Mental Health. PMCID: Pending
Rolbiecki, A.J., Govindarajan, A., Froeliger B. (2023). Immersive Virtual Reality and Neurofeedback for the Management of Cancer Symptoms during Treatment. Support Care Cancer. 2023 Jul 26;31(8):493. doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-07957-3. PMID: 37493785
Sahlem GL, Dowdle LT, Baker NL, Sherman BJ, Gray KM, McRae-Clark AL, Froeliger B, Squeglia LM. Exploring the Utility of a Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Cannabis Cue-Reactivity Paradigm in Treatment Seeking Adults with Cannabis Use Disorder. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 Nov 16:2023.11.14.23298485. doi: 10.1101/2023.11.14.23298485. PMID: 38014250; PMCID: PMC10680897.
Sherman, B.J., Brasher, Z.B., Baker, N.L., McRae-Clark, A.L., Froeliger, B. (2023). Restructuring reward: A pilot study to enhance natural reward response in adults with cannabis use disorder. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. PMID: 37329729
Upton, S., Brown, A., Garland, E.L., Ithman, M., Froeliger, B. (2023). Continuous Theta-Burst Stimulation to Right Inferior Frontal Gyrus Attenuates Smoking Behaviors and Strengthens Fronto-Striatal-Limbic Resting-State Functional Connectivity. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2023 Jun 28;14:1166912. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1166912. eCollection 2023. PMID: 37457779
Upton, S., Brown, A., Ithman, M., Newman-Norlund, R., Sahlem, G., Prisciandaro, J., McClure, E.A., Froeliger, B. (2023). Effects of Hyperdirect Pathway Theta-Burst Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Inhibitory Control, Craving, and Smoking in Adults with Nicotine Dependence: A Double-Blind Randomized Crossover Trial. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. PMID: 37567363
Verdejo-Garcia, A. et al., (2023). Cognitive training and remediation interventions for substance use disorders: A Delphi consensus study. Addiction. May;118(5):935-951. doi: 10.1111/add.16109. PMID: 36508168
For more publications
Please email us at healthneurosciencecenter@gmail.com
THE TEAM
BRETT FROELIGER, Ph.D.
DIRECTOR, THE HEALTH NEUROSCIENCE CENTER
Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Sciences
University of Missouri
froeligerb@health.missouri.edu
573-882-4785
DIRECTOR
RESEARCH STAFF
SPENCER UPTON, Ph.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
Department of Psychological Sciences
University of Missouri
573-882-7568
STUDENTS
TYLEE WILLIAMS-SCHNAKE, B.A.
RESEARCH SPECIALIST
Department of Psychological Sciences
University of Missouri
573-882-8913
ROBIN ARNOLD, M.A.
Ph.D. STUDENT
Department of Psychological Sciences
University of Missouri
443-717-3048
NICHOLAS HENIGMAN, B.A.
Ph.D. STUDENT
Department of Psychological Sciences
University of Missouri
573-340-5643
ALUMNI
SERENNA PRIDE
RESEARCH ASSISTANT, McNAIR SCHOLAR
Department of Psychological Sciences
University of Missouri
ALEX BROWN, B.S.
DATA ANALYST
STEPHEN CRAIG, B.S.
MRI TECH AND RESEARCH COORDINATOR
ANDREW TAIT, B.S.
RESEARCH SPECIALIST
MADHURA ATHREYA, M.S.
LAB MANAGER
MATTHEW MARTIN, B.S.
MRI TECH AND LAB MANAGER
DEVON TERRY, B.A.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
CONTACT US
PHONE AND TEXT
For Details, call or text: (573) 340-8636
Text "SMOKE" to 21000 to see if you are eligible
healthneurosciencecenter@gmail.com
HOURS
Monday - Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
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