Faculty

David R Roalf, Ph.D.

faculty photo
Research Assistant Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience in Psychiatry
Department: Psychiatry
Graduate Group Affiliations

Contact information
Brain Behavior Laboratory
Department of Psychiatry
Neurodevelopment & Psychosis Section
Richards Building
3700 Hamilton Walk
5th Floor, PodA, Room 5002
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283
Office: (215) 662-4678
Fax: (215) 662-7903
Education:
B.S. (Biological Psychology)
The College of William and Mary, 2001.
Ph.D. (Behavioral Neuroscience)
Oregon Health & Science University, 2010.
Cert. (Research Mentor Training)
University of Pennsylvania, 2022.
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Description of Research Expertise

Research Interests: My research interests include the neural basis of neuropsychiatric disorders and cognitive aging, including changes in cognition, memory and decision-making.

Keywords: MRI, neurochemistry, neuropsychiatry, cognitive aging, diffusion MRI,

Research Details: My research is motivated by the need to better understand the pathophysiology of brain dysfunction. Over the last two decades I have built an arsenal of skills in cognitive and behavioral neuroscientific methods, including psychophysical testing, EEG, structural and functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, that are useful for evaluating brain-behavior associations. The primary purpose of my research is to strengthen empirical knowledge about brain and behavior associations to better understand cognitive disturbances, particularly in neuropsychiatric and aging populations. My long-term goal is to use multi-modal cognitive neuroscientific approaches to facilitate early identification of individuals at-risk for neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative disease.

Selected Publications

Roalf David R, Sydnor Valerie J, Woods Madison, Wolk David A, Scott James C, Reddy Ravinder, Moberg Paul J: A quantitative meta-analysis of brain glutamate metabolites in aging. Neurobiology of aging 95: 240-249, Nov 2020.

Sydnor Valerie J, Roalf David R: A meta-analysis of ultra-high field glutamate, glutamine, GABA and glutathione 1HMRS in psychosis: Implications for studies of psychosis risk. Schizophrenia research 226: 61-69, Dec 2020.

Crow Andrew J D, Janssen Jennica, Vickers Kacyi L, Parish-Morris Julia, Moberg Paul J, Roalf David R: Olfactory dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders: a meta-analytic review of attention deficits/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders 50(8): 2685-2697, Aug 2020.

Roalf David R., de la Garza, Angel G., Rosen, Adon, Calkins, Monica E., Moore, Tyler M., Quarmley, Megan, Ruparel, Kosha, Xia, Cedric Huhuan, Rupert, Petra, Satterwthwaite, Theodore D, Shinohara, Russell, T, Elliott, Mark, A, Gur, Ruben C, Gur, Raquel E: Alterations in white matter microstructure in individuals at persistent risk for psychosis. Molecular psychiatry 25(10): 2441-2454, Oct 2020.

Moberg Paul J, Turetsky Bruce, Moberg Emily A, Kohler Christian G, Tang Sunny X, Gur Ruben C, Gur, Raquel E, Roalf David R: Meta-analysis of olfactory dysfunction in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Psychiatry research 285: 112783, Jan 2020.

Pines Adam R, Cieslak Matthew, Larsen Bart, Baum Graham L, Cook Philip A, Adebimpe Azeez, Davila, Diego G, Elliott, Mark A, Jirsaraie Robert, Murtha Kristin, Oathes Desmond J, Piiwaa Kayla, Rosen Adon F G, Rush Sage, Shinohara Russell T, Bassett Danielle S, Roalf David R, Satterthwaite Theodore D: Leverageing multi-shell diffusion for studies of brain development in youth and young adulthood. Developmental cognitive neuroscience 43: 100788, Jun 2020.

Cui Zaixu, Li Hongming, Xiz Cedric H, Larsen Bart, Adebimpe Azeez, Baum Graham L, Cieslak, Matthew, Gur Raquel E, Gur Ruben C, Moore Tyler M, Oathes Desmond J, Alexander-Bloch Aaron, Raznahan Armin, Roalf David R, Shinohara Russell T, Wolf Daniel H, Davatzikos Christos, Bassett Danielle S, Fair Damien A, Fan Yong, Satterthwaite Theodore D: Individual variation in control network topography supports executive function in youth. Neuron 106(2): 340-358, Apr 2020.

Roalf David, Vandekar Simon, Almasy Laura, Ruparel Kosha, Satterthwaite Theodore, Elliott Mark, Podell Jamie, Gallagher Sean, Jackson Chad, Prasad Konasale, Wood Joel, Pogue-Geile Michael, Nimgaonkar Vishwajit, Gur Ruben, Gur Raquel: Heritability of subcortical and limbic brain volume and shape in multiplex-multigenerational families with schizophrenia. Biological psychiatry 77(2): 137-46, Jan 2015.

Cui Zaixu, Stiso Jason, Baum Graham, Kim J, Roalf, David R, Betzel Richard F, Gu Shi, Lu Z, Xia Cedric H, He X, Ciric Rastko, Oathes Desmond J, Moore Tyler M, Shinohara Russell T, Ruparel Kosha, Davatzikos Christos, Pasqualetti F, Gur Raquel, Gur Ruben, Bassett Danielle S, Satterthwaite Theodore D: Optimization of energy state transition trajectory supports the development of executive function during youth. Elife 27(9), Mar 2020.

Roalf David, Moore Tyler, Wolk David, Arnold Steven, Mechanic-Hamilton Dawn, Rick Jacqueline, Kabadi Sushila, Ruparel Kosha, Chen-Plotkin Alice, Chahine Lama, Dahodwala Nabila, Duda John, Weintraub Daniel, Moberg Paul: Defining and validating a short form Montreal Cognitive Assessment (s-MoCA) for use in neurodegenerative disease. Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry 87(12): 1303-1310, Apr 2016.

Roalf David, Quarmley Megan, Elliott Mark, Satterthwaite Theodore, Vandekar Simon, Ruparel Kosha, Gennatas Efstathios, Calkins Monica, Moore Tyler, Hopson Ryan, Prabhakaran Karthik, Jackson Chad, Verma Ragini, Hakonarson Hakon, Gur Ruben, Gur Raquel: The impact of quality assurance assessment on diffusion tensor imaging outcomes in a large-scale population-based cohort. NeuroImage 125: 903-19, Jan 2016.

Perlis Michael, Roalf David, Kloss Jaqueline: A commentary on the "Functioning of three attentional networks and vigilance in primary insomnia". Sleep medicine 16(12): 1567-8, Dec 2015.

Calkins Monica, Merikangas Kathleen, Moore Tyler, Burstein Marcy, Behr Meckenzie, Satterthwaite Theodore, Ruparel Kosha, Wolf Daniel, Roalf David, Mentch Frank, Qiu Haijun, Chiavacci Rosetta, Connolly John, Sleiman Patrick, Gur Ruben, Hakonarson Hakon, Gur Raquel: The Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort: constructing a deep phenotyping collaborative. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines 56(12): 1356-69, Dec 2015.

Satterthwaite Theodore, Connolly John, Ruparel Kosha, Calkins Monica, Jackson Chad, Elliott Mark, Roalf David, Ryan Hopsona, Karthik Prabhakaran, Behr Meckenzie, Qiu Haijun, Mentch Frank, Chiavacci Rosetta, Sleiman Patrick, Gur Ruben, Hakonarson Hakon, Gur Raquel: The Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort: A publicly available resource for the study of normal and abnormal brain development in youth. NeuroImage 124(Pt B): 1115-9, Jan 2016.

Vandekar Simon, Shinohara Russell, Raznahan Armin, Roalf David, Ross Michelle, DeLeo Nicholas, Ruparel Kosha, Verma Ragini, Wolf Daniel, Gur Ruben, Gur Raquel, Satterthwaite Theodore: Topologically dissociable patterns of development of the human cerebral cortex. The Journal of neuroscience: the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 35(2): 599-609, Jan 2015.

Schmitt Eric, Vandekar Simon, Yi James, Calkins Monica, Ruparel Kosha, Roalf David, Whinna Daneen, Souders Margaret, Satterthwaite Theodore, Prabhakaran Karthik, McDonald-McGinn Donna, Zackai Elaine, Gur Ruben, Emanuel Beverly, Gur Raquel: Aberrant Cortical Morphometry in the 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. Biological psychiatry 78(2): 135-43, Jul 2015.

Roalf David, Gur Raquel, Verma Ragini, Parker William, Quarmley Megan, Ruparel Kosha, Gur Ruben: White matter microstructure in schizophrenia: associations to neurocognition and clinical symptomatology. Schizophrenia research 161(1): 42-9, Jan 2015.

van Steenoven Inger, Aarsland Dag, Hurtig Howard, Chen-Plotkin Alice, Duda John, Rick Jacqueline, Chahine Lama, Dahodwala Nabila, Trojanowski John, Roalf David, Moberg Paul, Weintraub Daniel: Conversion between mini-mental state examination, montreal cognitive assessment, and dementia rating scale-2 scores in Parkinson's Disease. Movement disorders: official journal of the movement disorder society 29(14): 1809-15, Dec 2014.

Roalf David, Gur Raquel, Ruparel Kosha, Calkins Monica, Satterthwaite Theodore, Bilker Warren, Hakonarson Hakon, Harris Lauren Julius, Gur Ruben: Within-individual variability in neurocognitive performance: age- and sex-related differences in children and youths from ages 8 to 21. Neuropsychology 28(4): 506-18, Jul 2014.

Satterthwaite Theodore, Wolf Daniel, Roalf David, Ruparel Kosha, Erus Guray, Vandekar Simon, Gennatas Efstathios, Elliott Mark, Smith Alex, Hakonarson Hakon, Verma Ragini, Davatzikos Christos, Gur Raquel, Gur Ruben: Linked Sex Differences in Cognition and Functional Connectivity in Youth. Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y.: 1991) 25(9): 2383-94, Sep 2015.

Roalf David, Ruparel Kosha, Gur Raquel, Bilker Warren, Gerraty Raphael, Elliott Mark, Gallagher Sean, Almasy Laura, Pogue-Geile Michael, Prasad Konasale, Wood Joel, Nimgaonkar Vishwajit, Gur Ruben: Neuroimaging predictors of cognitive performance across a standardized neurocognitive battery. Neuropsychology 28(2): 161-76, Mar 2014.

Cai Kejia, Singh Anup, Roalf David, Nanga Ravi Prakash Reddy, Haris Mohammad, Hariharan Hari, Gur Ruben, Reddy Ravinder: Mapping glutamate in subcortical brain structures using high-resolution GluCEST MRI. NMR in biomedicine 26(10): 1278-84, Oct 2013.

Roalf David, Moberg Paul, Xie Sharon, Wolk David, Moelter Stephen, Arnold Steven: Comparative accuracies of two common screening instruments for classification of Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and healthy aging. Alzheimer's & dementia: the journal of the Alzheimer's Association 9(5): 529-37, Sep 2013.

Roalf David, Ruparel Kosha, Verma Ragini, Elliott Mark, Gur Raquel, Gur Ruben: White matter organization and neurocognitive performance variability in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia research 143(1): 172-8, Jan 2013.

Roalf David, Gur Ruben, Almasy Laura, Richard Jan, Gallagher Sean, Prasad Konasale, Wood Joel, Pogue-Geile Michael, Nimgaonkar Vishwajit, Gur Raquel: Neurocognitive performance stability in a multiplex multigenerational study of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia bulletin 39(5): 1008-17, Sep 2013.

Roalf David, Pruis Trisha, Stevens Alexander, Janowsky Jeri: More is less: emotion induced prefrontal cortex activity habituates in aging. Neurobiology of aging 32(9): 1634-50, Sep 2011.

Roalf David, Mitchell Suzanne, Harbaugh William, Janowsky Jeri: Risk, reward, and economic decision making in aging. The journals of gerontology: series b, psychological sciences and social sciences 67(3): 289-98, May 2012.

Moberg Paul, Arnold Steven, Doty Richard, Gur Raquel, Balderston Catherine, Roalf David, Gur Ruben, Kohler Christian, Kanes Stephen, Siegel Steven, Turetsky Bruce: Olfactory functioning in schizophrenia: relationship to clinical, neuropsychological, and volumetric MRI measures. Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology 28(8): 1444-61, Nov 2006.

Robinson Keith, Dennison Andrew, Roalf David, Noorigian Joseph, Cianci Heather, Bunting-Perry Lisette, Moberg Paul, Kleiner-Fisman Galit, Martine Rebecca, Duda John, Jaggi Jurg, Stern Matthew: Falling risk factors in Parkinson's disease. Neurorehabilitation 20(3): 169-82, 2005.

Moberg Paul, Roalf David, Balderston Catherine, Kanes Stephen, Gur Raquel, Turetsky Bruce: Phenylthiocarbamide perception in patients with schizophrenia and first-degree family members. The American journal of psychiatry 162(4): 788-90, Apr 2005.

Turetsky Bruce, Moberg Paul, Roalf David, Arnold Steve, Gur Raquel: Decrements in volume of anterior ventromedial temporal lobe and olfactory dysfunction in schizophrenia. Archives of general psychiatry 60(12): 1193-200, Dec 2003.

Larsen Bart, Bourque Josiane, Moore Tyler, Adebimpe Azeez, Calkins Monica, Elliott Mark, Gur Ruben, Gur Raquel, Moberg Paul, Roalf David, Ruparel Kosha, Turetsky Bruce, Vandekar Simon, Wolf Daniel, Shinohara Russell T, Satterthwaite, Theodore: Longitudinal development of brain iron is linked to cognition in youth. Journal of neuroscience 40(9): 1810-1818, Feb 2020.

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Last updated: 01/12/2024
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