Deanna Barch, the Gregory B. Couch Professor of Psychiatry and a professor of psychological and brain sciences, has won the Atkinson Prize in Psychological and Cognitive Sciences from the National Academy of Sciences. One of the most prestigious honors in the field of psychology, the award recognizes researchers who have made “significant advances in the psychological and cognitive sciences,” according to the Academy.

The Academy cited Barch’s “seminal contributions to understanding behavior, brain, and mental health across development, especially in schizophrenia and childhood depression.” Her work, the Academy said, “has advanced our understanding of cognitive dysfunction and brain connectivity, influencing both basic psychological science and clinical interventions.”

“I was so honored to receive this award from the National Academy of Sciences,” Barch said. “It is really a shared award, though, given all of the critical contributions from collaborators and trainees to this research. My highest hope is that this body of work has helped to improve the lives of individuals living with mental illness.”

Barch’s research combines functional and structural MRI with cognitive neuroscience methods to examine the neural basis of disrupted cognitive control and emotional processing in people with schizophrenia, those at risk for developing the disorder, and individuals with mood disorders.

She has long collaborated with researchers at the School of Medicine on work demonstrating the long-term effects of childhood adversity — poverty, stress, and disparities in access to healthcare — on early brain development and subsequent risk for mental health challenges.

“In addition to her research, Barch has made exceptional contributions as a mentor and leader, displaying a deep commitment to training the next generation of clinician-scientists,” the Academy wrote. 

The Atkinson Prize adds to an already distinguished list of honors. Barch is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the Society of Experimental Psychologists, as well as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Her recent awards include the Lieber Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Schizophrenia Research from the Brain Behavior and Research Foundation, the Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health from the National Academy of Medicine, and the Williams James Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Psychological Science.