Dr. Heckers studies the neural basis of psychiatric disorders. He is particularity interested in the disease mechanisms of two psychiatric disorders, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The Heckers laboratory combines neuroimaging experiments of brain structure and function in psychotic patients with post-mortem studies of the cellular and molecular basis of psychosis. Of particular interest are the mechanisms of cognitive deficits and psychotic symptoms (hallucinations and delusions) in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.