2013 Department News

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M. E. Paneroreceived Honorable Mention for her first authored poster displayed at the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) annual conference. The research presented looked at dissociation and cortisol response during the Stressful Event Speech (SES). Posted 11/14/13.

Kelly Dumais,Remco Bredewold,Thomas Mayer(B.S. '12), andAlexa Veenemahave published anin the journalHormones and Behavioron sex differences in the brain oxytocin system. Contrary to the prevailing view that oxytocin is more important for females than for males, they found that female rats (regardless of estrus phase) actually have much less oxytocin receptors than male rats in the majority of forebrain regions. They further showed that oxytocin receptor densities in amygdala subregions correlate with sex differences in social interest. These findings will help improve our understanding of sex-specific regulation of social behavior and possibly of sex-biases in social disorders. Posted 10/15/13.

Gorica Petrovichhas been selected for Fellow status in the Association for Psychological Sciences (APS). Fellow status is awarded to APS Members who have made sustained outstanding contributions to the science of psychology. Gorica joins APS fellows in our department Elizabeth Kensinger, James Russell, and Ellen Winner, and former faculty member Michael Numan. Posted 10/9/13.

Lily Tsoireceives a Graduate Student Travel Award from the Society of Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP), which comes with a $500 travel stipend. Out of 607 applications, 13% were selected for awards. Posted 10/4/13.

Kelly Dumais, doctoral candidate in Alexa Veenema’s lab, received a highly competitive Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA). Kelly's research focuses on the neurobiological basis of sex-specific regulation of social behavior. This 2-year award allows her to employ a unique combination of techniques (including in vivo microdialysis and fMRI) to examine the role of oxytocin and its underlying neural circuits in mediating social interest in a rat model. Posted 9/19/13.

Alexa Veenemareceived the NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program award, which includes a substantial grant to support research over a five-year period and is given to promising young faculty members who exemplify the role of teacher-scholar through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of both education and research. Alexa's research aims to advance our understanding of the sex-specific neurobiological regulation of social behaviors in the juvenile period. Posted 9/17/13.

Liane Young'sԻJames Dungan'sis featured. Posted 8/2/13.

Graduate studentKelly Bennionandother members of the Kensinger laboratory publish two articles: "Oversimplification in the study of emotional memory" in theJournal of the International Neuropsychological Society, and "Sleep and cortisol interact to support memory consolidation" inCerebral Cortex. Posted 7/8/13.

Assistant ProfessorGorica Petrovichhas been awarded the. This award honors members (particularly younger members) of the Pavlovian Society for significant research accomplishments.

Christina ReppucciԻGorica Petrovichreport in their forthcoming paper inAppetite, "," that environmental cues associated with past aversive events can inhibit eating under conditions where rats would normally consume large amounts of food.

Ellen Winnerand Thalia Goldstein havecommissioned by OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) on the impact of arts education on cognitive and social skills.

Sindy Cole, Daniel Powell, andGorica Petrovichhave published a paper in the journalLearning & Memorycalled "."

Kelly Bennion, graduate student in Elizabeth Kensinger's lab, was recently awardedthefrom the Department of Defense.

Laura Young, doctoral student, has been awarded afrom the National Endowment for the Arts.

Gene Heyman’spaper, "," was recently published in the 2013Annual Review of Clinical Psychology.It evaluates theories of addiction in light of recent epidemiological trends, animal research, and historical events that transformed American drug use.

Halle Zucker, lab manager in Elizabeth Kensinger's lab, was awarded a fellowship from the National Science Foundation.

Graduate studentJames Dunganand incoming graduate studentLily Tsoi, both in Liane Young's lab, have received Graduate Research Fellowships from the National Science Foundation.

Two recent graduates from our doctoral program,Ի, are listed as "rising stars" in the March 2013Observer, where their research is described. Both were mentored by Lisa Feldman Barrett and Jim Russell.

Sindy Cole, postdoctoral fellow in Gorica Petrovich's lab, recently had a Journal Club review, "Recruitment of Multiple Pathways to Ventral Tegmental Area during Cocaine-Seeking Behavior," published inThe Journal of Neuroscience.

Joe Pochedly, Sherri Widen, and James Russellhave publishedon the influence of experimental context on how children and adults interpret the prototypical "disgust face." The "disgust face" is labeled as disgusted when it is preceded by a prototypical "angry face", but is labeled as angry when preceded by a facial expression conveying sickness.

Sherri Widen, research associate, and James Russell have a forthcoming article inPsychological Bulletincalled “Children’s Recognition of Disgust in Others.” Although children have an elaborated concept of disgust, the majority do not associate the standard disgust face with disgust until they are 9 years of age or older.

Laura Young, doctoral student, has a new paper with Sara Cordes and Ellen Winner called “.” The article appears in the journalPsychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Artsand is featured in this.

Sherri Widen, Ph.D. 2005, former student of James Russell and research associate in the Emotion Development Lab, has accepted an Associate Research Scientist position in the Center for Emotional Intelligence in the Department of Psychology at Yale University.

Elizabeth Kensingerhas won the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Faculty Teaching/Mentoring Award for her outstanding graduate teaching and for her dedicated mentoring of doctoral students.

Jess Karanianreceived the Most Outstanding Graduate Poster Presentation at the NEURON Conference.

Angelina Hawley-Dolan(Arts and Mind Lab) andBrendan Murray(Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Lab) successfully defended their graudate dissertations in March 2013.

Jennifer Drake, Ph.D. 2012, former student of Ellen Winner, accepts a tenure track Assistant Professorship in the Department of Psychology at Brooklyn College, The City University of New York.