Drew E. Winters, PhD, is a Research Faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where he directs the Affective Social Cognition, Executive functioning, and Neural-Development lab (ASCEND).

His research broadly aims to understand neural processes linking social cognition and executive functioning to mental health and social behavior across adolescence and into adulthood. These processes can be profoundly impaired—particularly in individuals with phenotypes associated with antisocial behavior (e.g. callous-unemotionality, psychopathy). Drew’s work investigates how social and executive functions interact as a psychological mechanism as well as the implicated brain mechanisms (circuits/topology/networks) contribute to the development of these traits.

To address these questions, Drew integrates functional neuroimaging, network science, and advanced statistical modeling (e.g., computational modeling, machine learning, growth curve modeling). The overarching goal of his work is to identify replicable brain mechanisms that explain the socio-affective and neurocognitive disruptions observed in youth with antisocial tendencies. This research holds promise for improving the development and evaluation of targeted interventions for these populations.

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