University of Arizona · PhysiologyThe Adolescent Brain Initiative
Katalin M Gothard · Tucson, Arizona
Research Focus
Dr. Katalin M Gothard's lab at the University of Arizona focuses on understanding how the adolescent brain develops, particularly its reward processing systems, by studying non-human primates. The research aims to unravel the connections between brain structure changes during adolescence and the increase in mental health issues observed in teens today. The lab uses innovative techniques to explore how adolescents make decisions, experience rewards, and interact socially as their brains mature.
adolescent brainreward processingmental healthneurophysiologysocial behavior
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the neural basis of decision making related to delayed rewards in adolescents.
AIM 02Examine the neural processes involved in social reward allocation among peers.
AIM 03Explore how social status is represented and processed in the adolescent brain.
Skills the Lab Values
neuroimaginglongitudinal studiesbehavioral analysiscell cultureMRI scanning
Output against the department
Publications79bottom 19% of dept.232nd of 286
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations5.1kbottom 43% of dept.161st of 286
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.