MSI PI Monica Luciana (Chair, Psychology) studies brain development in adolescents, including how the developing brain is affected by the use of alcohol and other drugs such as marijuana. She is part of a large research group, The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) consortium, that is following 11,500 children over at least five years. The goal of this project is to find strategies for preventing and treating substance abuse. Professor Luciana is co-head of one part of the study, along with U of Minnesota colleague Regents Professor William Iacono. Much of their research involves fraternal and identical twins.
The ABCD consortium is funded by NIH. A story about this research appears on the University News website: Assessing how alcohol affects the adolescent brain.