Brian PennieTrinity College Dublin | TCD · Institute of Neuroscience
Brian Pennie
Master of Science
About
5
Publications
1,163
Reads
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19
Citations
Citations since 2017
Introduction
My current PhD research will objectively explore the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on adults who misuse substances. Specifically, the aim of this research is to identify the most significant predictors of successful abstinence and treatment response following mindfulness-based interventions.
My other research interests reside around the basic verbal processes (i.e. language and cognition) underpinning human suffering and positive mental health. I am specifically interested in how such processes (e.g. compulsive thinking) might be implicated in addiction and mindfulness, and how they may facilitate a greater appreciation of how to treat substance use disorders.
Additional affiliations
September 2018 - July 2019
May 2016 - September 2016
Position
- Research Assistant
Description
- I was involved in several cognitive neuroscientific research projects studying addiction, anxiety, and ADHD
June 2015 - present
Position
- Research Assistant
Description
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical interventions based on Relational Frame Theory (RFT)
Publications
Publications (5)
The etiology and trajectory of addictions is complex, caused and moderated by individual differences in cognition that are themselves a function of genetics and of environment. In this chapter, we discuss how “Big Data” can shed light on the cognitive correlates of addiction. Big Data is primarily data-driven, using algorithms that search for patte...
Contradictory findings in reviews that assess the relationship between the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) and cognitive functioning have been attributed to heterogeneity in the criteria used to assess MedDiet and cognition, and differences in the location or cultural habits of the populations studied. Few reviews have examined the relationship betwee...
Background
Impulsivity, broadly characterized as the tendency to act prematurely without foresight, is linked to alcohol misuse in college students. However, impulsivity is a multidimensional construct and different subdomains likely underlie different patterns of alcohol misuse. Here, we quantified the association between alcohol intoxication freq...
The research investigated the contextual effects of mood on implicit measures of 'wanting more' as a proxy of materialism and investigated the basic verbal processes underpinning this behaviour. Sixty university students were recruited to participate. Participants were exposed to either a positive (n = 21), negative (n = 20) or neutral (n = 19) moo...
Projects
Projects (2)
The present study extends previous research by the current authors which found that the construct of ‘wanting more’ was significantly associated with increased materialism, reduced life satisfaction, and negative affect in a sample of University students. The purpose of the current research is to explore whether the same cognitive processes might underpin addictive behaviour. Specifically, this study aims to assess implicit and explicit biases towards ‘wanting more’ in a sample of individuals engaged with addiction services versus a healthy control sample.
The proposed research aims to determine the relative impact of impulse control, novelty seeking, and emotional regulation (i.e., maladaptive coping) on alcohol consumption in adults with symptoms of ADHD. Additionally, advanced statistical modelling will be used to quantify the interactions among these psychological processes in alcohol dependency.
