The Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (FNL) focuses upon the development and application of new neuroimaging techniques to identify the areas of the brain underlying symptom formation in neuropsychiatric disorders. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used to map and probe neural circuits, and associated cognitive, affective, perceptual and behavioral processes thought to be disrupted in these conditions. The entire range of psychiatric disorders is studied, including schizophrenia, manic-depressive illness, major depression, geriatric depression, anxiety disorders (including panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder), eating disorders, and personality disorders. The resultant identification and characterization of abnormal patterns of activity in specific brain circuits provides a foundation for the development of more targeted, biologically-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The development of novel methods of MRI image acquisition and analysis, optimized for such neuropsychiatic studies, constitutes another major focus of the laboratory. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and electrophysiologic techniques are also used in a complementary fashion. The laboratory therefore consists of a multidisciplinary team of scientists, in fields including psychiatry, neurology, radiology, behavioral neuroscience, cognitive psychology, physics, mathematics/statistics and computer engineering. The FNL collaborates with many groups of clinical researchers throughout the department, works closely with basic neuroscientists on translational neuroscientific studies, and participates in numerous local, national and international collaborative research projects. Drs. Silbersweig, Stern and their colleagues have used their novel imaging methods to localize brain regions associated with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia (psychosis), Tourette syndrome (tics), geriatric depression (memory dysfunction), bipolar disorder (mania), borderline personality disorder (affective dysfunction, behavioral dyscontrol), and anxiety disorders (such as panic disorder). The FNL has an extensive training program and curriculum with a broad range of trainees, including M.D. (post-residency) research fellows, post-doctoral fellows, residents, medical students and graduate students.