Patrick Fisher

Scientific interests:

I am a neuroscientist interested in identifying neurobiological mechanisms that shape inter-individual variability in behavior. My research applies fMRI to establish task-based and resting-state features of distributed brain function and connectivity. Complementary, we use PET to establish features of behaviorally relevant neurotransmission, primarily serotonin receptor and transporter distribution. My research evaluates how these features are:

1. affected by intervention strategies (e.g., psychedelics, SSRIs, bright-light therapy),
2. disrupted in brain disorders such as major depressive disorder and disorders of consciousness,
3. predictive of treatment response,
4. associated with relevant behavioral phenotypes,
5. related to genetic markers.

A core research focus in on neural features of consciousness. I lead PET and fMRI study delineating brain mechanisms associated with psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin and LSD) to better understand how these drugs affect the brain. I have on-going projects evaluating fMRI measures in patients in coma and related states to identify neural markers of conscious awareness and recovery.

These research interests are the foundation for integrating PET and fMRI, complementary human brain imaging tools that together facilitate our understanding of how neurotransmission shapes distributed neural pathways underlying consciousness and behavior. I am also quite interested in developing and leveraging multivariate analytic strategies that more effectively map stable and informative links between brain imaging phenotypes and relevant outcomes.

Biography:

Publications:

My full list of scientific publications can be accessed through my ORCID-profile.

Selected publications:

1. McCulloch DEW, Knudsen GM, Barrett FS, Doss M, Carhart-Harris RL, Rosas FE, Deco G, Kringelbach ML, Preller KH, Ramaekers JG, Mason NL, Müller F, Fisher PM. Psychedelic resting-state neuroimaging: a review and perspective on balancing replication and novel analyses. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 2022. 138:104689. DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104689.
2. Olsen AS, Lykkebo-Valløe A, Ozenne B, Madsen MK, Stenbæk DS, Armand S, Mørup M, Ganz M, Knudsen GM, Fisher PM. Psilocybin modulation of time-varying functional connectivity is associated with plasma psilocin and subjective effects. Neuroimage. 2022. 264:119716. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119716.
3. Fisher PM, Ozenne B, Ganz M, Frokajer VG, Dam VNH, Penninx BWJH, Sankar A, Miskowiak K, Jensen PS, Knudsen GM, Jorgensen MG. Emotional faces processing in major depressive disorder and prediction of antidepressant treatment response – A NeuroPharm Study. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2022. 36(5): 626-636. DOI: 10.1177/02698811221089035.
4. Amiri M*, Fisher PM*, Sidaros A, Hribljan CM, Othman MH, Raimondo F, Zibrandtsen I, Albrechtsen SA, Bergdal O, Hansen AE, Hassager C, Højgaard JLS, Jakobsen EW, Jensen HR, Møller J, Narsesjan V, Nikolic M, Olsen MH, Sigurdsson ST, Sitt JD, Sølling C, Willumsen LM, Hauerberg J, Larsen VA, Fabricius ME, Knudsen GM, Kjærgaard J, Møller K, Kondziella D. Multimodal assessment of residual consciousness in the intensive care unit: The CONNECT-ME study. Brain. 2022. awac335. DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac335.
5. Madsen MK, Fisher PM, Burmester D, Dyssegaard A, Stenbæk DS, Kristiansen S, Johansen SS, Lehel S, Linnet K, Svarer C, Erritzoe D, Ozenne B, Knudsen GM. Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2019. 44: 1328–1334. DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0324-9.