Faculty

James MacKillop , Ph.D. Assistant Professor Clinical Psychology & Neuroscience and Behavior Programs Ph.D., SUNY-Binghamton, 2005 Office: Room 152 Ph: (706) 542-3033 Fax: (706) 542-3275 Email: jmackill@uga.edu Laboratory Webpage

Research Interests

I conduct a program of research using modern learning theory to understand the nature and treatment of addictive behavior. I principally conduct research using behavioral economics, which integrates the principles of operant conditioning and micro-economics, but I am also interested in the role of associative conditioning in addictive behavior. Specific foci of my research program include: 1) craving and the development/extinction of craving reactions to substance cues; 2) impulsivity; 3) demand for addictive substances; 4) genetic determinants of addictive behavior, in particular, intermediate phenotypes; 5) neuroeconomics (i.e., the neuroanatomical basis of economic decision-making; 6) medications for treating addictive behavior. The preceding are not distinct from one another but reflect interrelated interests on different levels of analysis.

Selected Publications

MacKillop, J. & Lisman, S.A. (2005). Reactivity to alcohol cues: Isolating the role of perceived availability. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 13, 229-237.

MacKillop, J. (2006). Factor structure of the Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) under neutral conditions and during a cue-elicited urge state. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 30, 1315-1321.

MacKillop, J., Menges, D. P., McGeary, J.E., & Lisman, S.A. (2007). Influences of craving and DRD4 VNTR genotype on the relative value of alcohol. Behavioral and Brain Functions, 3, doi: 10.1186/1744-9081-3-11.

MacKillop, J. & Murphy, J.G. (2007). A behavioral economic measure of demand for alcohol predicts brief intervention outcomes. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 89, 223-233.

MacKillop, J., Murphy, J.G., Ray, L.A., Eisenberg, D.T.A., Lisman, S.A., Lum, J.K., & Wilson, D.S. (2008). Further validation of the cigarette purchase task for assessing the relative reinforcing efficacy of nicotine in smokers. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 16, 57-65.

Current Grants

2008-2010 : Global Research Awards for Nicotine Dependence
Pfizer Independent Competitive Grants Program
Title: Understanding Craving for Cigarettes via Behavioral Economics
Role: Principal Investigator

2008-2010 : Substance Abuse Policy Research Program Grant
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Title: Informing Public Policy on Cigarette Taxation via Cigarette Demand Curve Analysis
Role: Principal Investigator

2007- 2009 : New Scientist Award
Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation
Title: Understanding Alcohol Craving via Behavioral Economics
Role: Principal Investigator