Dr. Paul Stokes

Dr. Stokes’ research has focused on using neuroimaging to understand how genetic and environmental factors relevant to psychotic disorders influence the human dopamine system. He is particularly interested in cannabis and nicotine addictions in psychosis. He also has an interest in the neurochemical basis of human personality traits relevant to mental health, such as impulsivity and social conformity. Finally he has recently been collaborating with Prof. Allan to develop multimodal imaging studies to explore the neurobiology of bipolar disorder.

Dr. Stokes studied medicine at Birmingham University, where he also completed an intercalated BSc. in Pharmacology. He then trained in clinical psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital, London. Dr. Stokes went on to work with Prof Paul Grasby at the MRC Clinical Sciences Centre to use PET and fMRI to investigate the effect of risk factors for psychosis on the human dopamine system. He received a PhD from Imperial College London in 2011. Dr. Stokes has recently been working with Profs Anne Lingford-Hughes and David Nutt to develop advanced techniques to image the human GABA neurotransmitter system in the living human brain and to apply these to nicotine addiction and pathological gambling.