Debra Karhson
Dr. Karhson is an Assistant Professor of Psychology. Her main research focus is on autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the endocannabinoid system, cognition, and social functioning. The techniques and methodology used in her work take a translational neuroscience approach to discover novel avenues for the development of interventions that improve quality of life for people with neurodevelopmental disorders that impact cognitive function.
Education and Training:
- (2014-2019) Postdoc, center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences research, Stanford University
- (2014) Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Tulane University
- (2007) B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Drexel University
Recent Publications:
A randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial shows that intransal vasopressin improves social deficits in children with autism. KJ Parker, O Oztan, RA Liblove, N Mohsin, DS Karhson, RD Sumiyoshi,... Science translational medicine 11 (491), 2019
Plasma anandamide concentrations are lower in children with autism spectrum disorder. DS Karhson, KM Krasinska, JA Dallaire, RA Libove, JM Phillips, AS Chien, ... Molecular Autism 9 (1), 1-6, 2018
Intransal oxytocin treatment for social deficits and biomarkers of response in children with autism. KJ Parker, O Oztan, RA Libove, RD Sumiyoshi, LP Jackson, DS Karhson, ... Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114 (30). 8119-8124, 2017
Atypical sensory reactivity influences auditory attentional control in adults with autism spectrum disorders. DS Karhson, EJ Golob Autism Research 9 (10). 1079-1092. 2016
Endocannabinoid signaling in social functioning: an RDoC perspective. DS Karhson, AY Hardan, KJ Parker, ... Translational psychiatry 6 (9) e905-e905. 2016
The role of right inferior parietal cortex in auditory spatial attention: a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation study. DS Karhson, JR Mock, EJ Golob, Plos one 10 (12), e0144221, 2015
Research Interests:
Psychophysiological of Autism Spectrum Disorder
My psychological and physiological research on ASD involves:
- understanding of brain-behavior mechanisms of connectivity in car ASD features
- examining the significance of neural noise in ASD brain dynamics
- defining the brain dynamics of social and cognitive function in ASD
Translational Neuropsychiatry of Endocannabinoid System in Neurodevelopmental Brain Disorders
My neuropsychiatric research on the endocannabinoid system involves:
- understanding of the developmental role of this system in the cognitive and social function
- determining how this system can best be leveraged in therapeutic interventions
- defining how this system is impacted by other interventions
- measuring the short and long-term impact of interventions on this system
Links to Other Pages:
Courses:
- PSYC 3304 Experimental Psychology
- PSYC 3104 Experimental Psychology Laboratory