Consciousness is key to human potential. In this area, I am interested in modeling 1) “What is it like?” and 2) “How does it happen?” using phenomenology and neurophenomenology, respectively. The central hypothesis is that internal perception lends observation and insight into the structure, or scaffolding, of consciousness.. The central questions of “What?” and “How?” extend to modeling features that transcend consciousness, ultimately calling for a new field of science for empirical ontology or metaphysics.

In my view, addiction is the most significant health concern of the 21st century. As a disorder of consciousness, the awareness and salience of addiction cues, such as a line of cocaine, heightens over the course of abstinence, where “absence makes the heart grow fonder” leads directly to relapse. Cocaine is now the second leading cause of overdose death in the U.S. and there are no FDA approved treatments for psychostimulant use disorders. My research aims to reverse maladapative neuroplasticity underlying cue-induced drug cravings and restore psychological insight.

The word “psychedelic” was coined by Humphy Osmond and Aldous Huxley to draw attention to the “mind manifesting” effects of a certain class of hallucinogens, now broadly recognized as agonists of the 5-HT2a receptor. My prior work on the neuroscience of very low or “microdoses” of LSD found potential therapeutic effects on the brain, while future studies with single high doses of psilocybin aim to target neural mechanisms of addiction to curb cravings and restore insight.

Adolescents are uniquely vulnerable to mental health issues. My work with adolescents includes laboratory neuroscience and community outreach, extending beyond investigating the developing brain to mentoring the next generation of mental health leaders. Research in this area is tailored toward maximizing potential for a mindful future for adolescent mental health.

Cannabis is the most used illicit substance worldwide. The effects of high potency THC products, particularly on the developing mind and brain, is understudied. My research in this area indicates that cannabis is harmful to brain development, particularly for young men.

I am engaged in an effort to develop the field of Ecological Medicine, which broadly refers to the practice of nature as medicine. This includes the roles of the environment, animals, plants, and fungi in promoting wellness. This movement incorporates Indigenous perspectives, including Traditional Ecological Knowledge, in the spirit of reciprocity to maximize planetary health.