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Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology

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2006

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1994

Postdoctoral Fellow, Cognitive Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University

Postdoctoral Fellow, Clinical Neuroscience, University of Iowa

Ph.D., Neuroscience, Georgetown University

BS, Biopsychology, Tufts University

Research Interests

My research focuses on cognitive functions of the cerebellum. I have a particular interest in the way that the cerebellum works in conjunction with the prefrontal cortex to coordinate (or sequence) thoughts. Much as the cerebellum coordinates the precise timing of muscles during movement, it is thought that the cerebellum may play an analogous role in cognition by tightly coordinating the timing of mental activity.

It is well known that individuals with schizophrenia suffer from frontal lobe pathology. However, little research has been done to examine the role of the cerebellum, and its potential contribution to frontal lobe dysfunction, in this disorder. During my dissertation and postdoctoral research, I used structural MRI, PET, posturography, and cognitive testing to measure the integrity of the frontal lobe and cerebellum in schizophrenia. Working with John Desmond in NIMLAB, I am pursuing a similar line of interest by using fMRI and TMS to examine the role of cerebro-cerebellar circuitry during verbal working memory in healthy adults.

A second interest of mine is the study of cerebellar function in substance abuse. Current research suggests that addiction involves a breakdown in working memory and executive processes. Brain imaging has shown strong cerebellar recruitment during drug craving. Therefore, I am interested in examining how a disruption of cerebellar function may impair working memory and executive function in a way that contributes to drug abuse and addiction.

Current Projects

NIMLAB

"fMRI and TMS Analysis of Cerebellar Cognitive Function", NIMH R01 MH060234, John Desmond (PI)

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

"Assessing the Specificity of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Associated with Drug Abuse: Identifying a Drug-Induced Form of Schizophrenia", Nellie Ball Trust Research Fund; 02/05 - ongoing

"A Novel Quantification of Motor Deficits and Brain Morphology in Schizophrenia and Well First-Degree Relatives: Identifying a Potential Marker of Genetic Vulnerability", Nellie Ball Trust Research Fund; 04/04 - ongoing

Marvel, C.L. , Schwartz, B.L., Isaacs, K.L. Word production deficits in schizophrenia. Brain & Language, 89(1), 182-191, 2004.

Marvel, C.L. , Schwartz, B.L., Rosse, R.B. A quantitative measure of postural sway deficits in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research , 68 (2-3), 363-372, 2004. 

Marvel, C.L. , Schwartz, B.L., Howard, D.V., Howard, J.H. Implicit Learning of Non-Spatial Sequences in Schizophrenia. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , 11 (6), 659-667, 2005.

Marvel, C.L.; Turner, B.M.; O'Leary, D.S.; Johnson, H.J.; Pierson, R.K.; Boles Ponto, L.L.; Andreasen, N.C. The neural correlates of implicit sequence learning in schizophrenia. Neuropsychology , 21 (6), 761-777, 2007.