James MacKillop, Ph.D.

  • Associate Professor
  • Clinical Psychology Program
  • Ph.D., SUNY-Binghamton, 2005

Laboratory Webpage

Research Interests

I conduct a program of research using modern learning theory to understand the nature and treatment of addictive behavior. I principally conduct research using behavioral economics, which integrates the principles of operant conditioning and micro-economics, but I am also interested in the role of associative conditioning in addictive behavior. Specific foci of my research program include: 1) craving and the development/extinction of craving reactions to substance cues; 2) impulsivity; 3) demand for addictive substances; 4) genetic determinants of addictive behavior, in particular, intermediate phenotypes; 5) neuroeconomics (i.e., the neuroanatomical basis of economic decision-making; 6) medications for treating addictive behavior. The preceding are not distinct from one another but reflect interrelated interests on different levels of analysis.

Selected Publications

MacKillop, J., Amlung, M., Pryor, L.R., Ray, L.A., Sweet, L., Munafo, M.R. (in press). Delay reward discounting and addiction: A meta-analysis. Psychopharmacology.

MacKillop, J., O'Hagen, S.E., Murphy, J.G., McGeary, J.E., Ray, L.A., Tidey, J.W., Monti, P.M., & Lisman, S.A. (2010). Behavioral economic analysis of cue-elicited craving for alcohol. Addiction, 105(9):1599-607.

MacKillop, J. Miranda, Jr., R., Monti, P.M., Ray, L.A., Tidey, J.W., Rohsenow, D.J., Gwaltney, G.J., McGeary, J.E., & Swift, R.M. (2010). Alcohol demand, delayed reward discounting, and craving in relation to drinking and alcohol use disorders. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 119, 106-14.

MacKillop, J., Obasi, E.M., Amlung, M.T., McGeary, J.G., & Knopik, V.S. (2010).The role of genetic factors in nicotine dependence. Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports, 4, 446-453.

MacKillop, J. & Kahler, C.W. (2009). Delayed reward discounting predicts smoking cessation treatment outcome in heavy drinkers. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 104, 197-203.

MacKillop, J., Murphy, J.G., Tidey, J.W., Kahler, C.W., Ray, L.A., & Bickel, W.K. (2009). Latent structure of facets of alcohol reinforcement from a behavioral economic demand curve. Psychopharmacology (Berl.), 203, 33-40.

MacKillop, J., Murphy, J.G., Ray, L.A., Eisenberg, D.T.A., Lisman, S.A., Lum, J.K., & Wilson, D.S. (2008). Further validation of the cigarette purchase task for assessing the relative reinforcing efficacy of nicotine in smokers. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 16, 57-65.

MacKillop, J., Menges, D. P., McGeary, J.E., & Lisman, S.A. (2007). Influences of craving and DRD4 VNTR genotype on the relative value of alcohol. Behavioral and Brain Functions, 3, doi: 10.1186/1744-9081-3-11.

MacKillop, J. & Murphy, J.G. (2007). A behavioral economic measure of demand for alcohol predicts brief intervention outcomes. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 89, 223-233.

Current Grants

2008-2013
K23 AA016936
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Title: Enhancing Alcoholism Pharmacotherapy Research via Behavioral Economics
Role: Principal Investigator
2009-2012
R21 AA017696-01A1
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Title: D-Cycloserine to Enhance Extinction to Alcohol Cues
Role: Principal Investigator
2010-2014
P30 DA027827 (Parent Grant)
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Title: Novel Neuroeconomic Intermediate Phenotypes for Nicotine Dependence: A Pilot Study
Role: Pilot Project Principal Investigator
2012-2014
Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders
Title: Social Network Analysis of Pathological Gambling
Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Adam Goodie, PhD; University of Georgia)
2011-2016
R01 DA032015 National Institute on Drug Abuse
Title: Genetic Basis of Impulsive Behavior in Humans
Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Harriet de Wit, PhD; University of Chicago)