Amy Arnsten, PhD

Dr. Arnsten is an international expert on the molecular regulation of higher cortical circuits, and a member of the National Academy of Medicine. She was the first to discover that acute, uncontrollable stress impairs prefrontal cortical function, rapidly switching the brain from a reflective to reflexive state. Arnsten received her BA in neuroscience from Brown University in 1976 (where she created the neuroscience major), and her PhD in neuroscience from UCSD in 1981. She did post-doctoral research with Dr. Susan Iversen at Cambridge University in the UK, and with Dr. Patricia Goldman-Rakic at Yale. Dr. Arnsten’s research examines the unique molecular regulation of the prefrontal cortical circuits that generate higher cognition and top-down control, and how these circuits are markedly impaired by stress and inflammation, conferring vulnerability in mental illness. Arnsten’s research has led to new treatments for cognitive disorders in humans, including the successful translation of guanfacine (Intuniv) for the treatment of ADHD and related prefrontal cortical disorders.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Amy Arnsten has an employment relationship with Yale University. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Amy Arnsten sits on the editorial board for Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, Behavioral and Brain Functions, Biological Psychiatry, and Neurobiology of Stress.