Boston University · BiologyCognition and Emotion Lab
Maria Medalla · Boston, Massachusetts
Research Focus
Dr. Maria Medalla's lab at Boston University investigates how the brain integrates emotional and cognitive information, focusing on the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). By studying the synaptic and circuit-level properties of neurons within the ACC, particularly in relation to emotional regulation and cognitive processes, the lab aims to uncover fundamental mechanisms that can inform treatments for mood disorders and other affective conditions.
anterior cingulate cortexemotion regulationcognitive integrationmultimodal pathwaysneural circuitsplasticitysynaptic propertiesoptogeneticscomputational modeling
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the short-range intrinsic interconnections within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).
AIM 02Assess the excitatory and inhibitory constituents of ACC circuits.
AIM 03Explore the neuromodulatory aspects of synaptic plasticity in ACC neurons.
AIM 04Examine how ACC pathways interact with long-range cognitive and limbic areas.
AIM 05Determine the impact of these interactions on network dynamics and plasticity in the ACC.
Skills the Lab Values
anatomical tract-tracingoptogeneticsslice physiologyhigh-resolution microscopycomputational modelingimmunohistochemistryelectrophysiologycell culturedata analysis with MATLABanimal behavior studies
Output against the department
Publications83bottom 26% of dept.769th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.8kbottom 37% of dept.652nd of 1,033
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.