The de Wit laboratory investigates the subjective, behavioral and physiological effects of drugs of abuse in healthy human volunteers. Some studies are designed to identify individual differences and risk factors for excessive use, and others to determine the effects of drugs on mood, psychomotor and cognitive performance, and brain activity. Another major interest is the study of conditioned drug effects, or cues, that influence future drug use.
Concordia University
Montreal Canada
PhD - Experimental Psychology
1981
University of Calgary
Calgary Canada
BA - Psychology
1969
Methamphetamine-induced adaptation of learning rate dynamics depend on baseline performance.
Methamphetamine-induced adaptation of learning rate dynamics depend on baseline performance. bioRxiv. 2025 Mar 20.
PMID: 39026741
MDMA as well as amphetamine and alcohol increase feelings of social closeness in healthy adults.
MDMA as well as amphetamine and alcohol increase feelings of social closeness in healthy adults. Sci Rep. 2024 12 28; 14(1):31312.
PMID: 39732947
Frontal Pole Neuromodulation for Impulsivity and Suicidality in Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Common Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Frontal Pole Neuromodulation for Impulsivity and Suicidality in Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Common Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2024 Dec 13; 13:e58206.
PMID: 39671573
Social Homeostasis and Psychoactive Drugs: What Can We Learn From Opioid and Amphetamine Drug Challenge Studies in Humans?
Social Homeostasis and Psychoactive Drugs: What Can We Learn From Opioid and Amphetamine Drug Challenge Studies in Humans? Biol Psychiatry. 2024 Sep 12.
PMID: 39277124
Impact of childhood adversity on acute subjective effects of stimulant and opioid drugs: Evidence from placebo-controlled studies in healthy volunteers.
Impact of childhood adversity on acute subjective effects of stimulant and opioid drugs: Evidence from placebo-controlled studies in healthy volunteers. J Psychopharmacol. 2024 Nov; 38(11):986-997.
PMID: 39118370
Methamphetamine-induced adaptation of learning rate dynamics depend on baseline performance.
Methamphetamine-induced adaptation of learning rate dynamics depend on baseline performance. bioRxiv. 2024 Jul 08.
PMID: 39026741
Psychedelics in Medicine: Can Evidence Keep Up With Enthusiasm?
Psychedelics in Medicine: Can Evidence Keep Up With Enthusiasm? Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging. 2024 May; 9(5):460-461.
PMID: 38719373
The 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine enhances early visual processing for salient socio-emotional stimuli.
The 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine enhances early visual processing for salient socio-emotional stimuli. Eur J Neurosci. 2024 Jun; 59(12):3224-3235.
PMID: 38637983
Neural complexity is increased after low doses of LSD, but not moderate to high doses of oral THC or methamphetamine.
Neural complexity is increased after low doses of LSD, but not moderate to high doses of oral THC or methamphetamine. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2024 Jun; 49(7):1120-1128.
PMID: 38287172
MDMA enhances positive affective responses to social feedback.
MDMA enhances positive affective responses to social feedback. J Psychopharmacol. 2024 03; 38(3):297-304.
PMID: 38279662
Lifetime Achievement Award
Research Society on Alcoholism
2020
John F. Lemieux Medal for Distinguished Alumni
Concordia University, Montreal
2020
Distinguished Achievement Award
European Behavioural Pharmacology Society
2019
Distinguished Lecturer, Elizabeth Fitzgerald Sporar Endowment Distinguished Initiatives in Addiction
University of Texas
2016
Marian W. Fischman Memorial Lectureship Award
College of Problems on Drug Dependence
2009
Solvay Award for Outstanding Basic Psychopharmacological Research in Affective Disorders
American Psychological Association
1999