Lab Director
Professor Inge-Marie Eigsti, PhD
Professor Inge-Marie Eigsti, PhD
Department of Psychological Sciences
Co-director, Cognitive Neuroscience of Communication-Connecticut Training Grant
Director of Research, Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Dr. Eigsti is interested in finding links between social communication difficulties in autism spectrum disorder, and mechanistic processes in the brain, by examining low-level cognitive processes such as working memory and auditory processing that can be linked to genetic, neurophysiological or neuroanatomical domains. The aim is to better understand autism at multiple levels: molecular (genetic), neurofunctional (brain imaging), and behavioral (symptomatology). Dr. Eigsti received a dual Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and Cognitive Science from University of Rochester in 2001.
Current CV. See Research and Publications page for downloads/pdfs.
Office: Bousfield
Contact: inge-marie.eigsti (AT) uconn.edu
Postdoctoral Fellows
Caroline Larson, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychological Sciences Dr. Larson's research focuses on relationships between language and other cognitive factors in children with language disorders, including Developmental Language Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder, with the long-term goal of improving differential diagnosis and treatment. She will be joining the faculty at the University of Missouri. |
Teresa Girolamo, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychological Sciences Dr. Girolamo just joined the Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences department at San Diego State University. She directs the Brain, Environment, and Language Lab (BELL), which focuses on how individual differences in language, together with environmental influences, shape life outcomes for racially and ethnically minoritized autistic individuals. She uses behavioral methods and functional near-infrared spectroscopy, as well as community-based participatory approaches. The long-term objective of this work is to translate longitudinal knowledge into community-based supports. She will be joining the faculty at San Diego State University. |
Grad students
Mackenzie Stabile (2017) Mackenzie’s research focuses on pragmatic language use in ASD, with a particular interest in the extent to which differences influence communicative quality during naturalistic social interactions. Her research examines the role of lexical alignment in communicative success during social problem-solving in ASD. Ultimately, she hopes that this research will both inform interventions and improve outcomes for individuals on the spectrum. Mackenzie, currently on internship, will complete a postdoc at Brown University. Publications Eigsti, I. M., Thomas, R. P., Stabile, M., Mohan, A., Dieckhaus, M. F. S., Crutcher, J., Taverna, E., & Fein, D. A. (2022). Online administration of the ADOS for research with adolescents and adults in response to the pandemic. Autism Res, 15(10), 1909-1916. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2791 Patra, A., Traut, H., Stabile, M., & Middleton, E.L. (2022). Effortful retrieval practice effects in lexical access: A role for semantic competition. Language, Cognition, and Neuroscience, 37(8), 948-963. https://doi.org/10.1080/23273798.2022.2027991. Stabile, M. & Eigsti, I.M. (2022). Lexical alignment and communicative success in ASD. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 15(10), 1909-1916. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2791 Yantz, C.L. & Stabile, M. (2022). Overcoming some challenges of transitioning from clinical practice to psychology training leadership in mid-career. APTC Bulletin, 12-13, https://aptc.org/images/File/newsletter/APTC_Newsletter_2022_FINAL.pdf.pdf |
Elise Taverna (2018) Elise's research interests broadly include the cognitive and environmental factors underlying language and social outcomes in individuals with autism spectrum disorders, as well as mechanisms of optimal outcomes in ASD. Previously, she worked with Sophie Molholm at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, coordinating neuroimaging studies of sensory processing and cognition in autism spectrum disorders and other conditions. Elise, currently on internship, will complete a postdoc at MGH. Publications Eigsti, I. M., Thomas, R. P., Stabile, M., Mohan, A., Dieckhaus, M. F. S., Crutcher, J., Taverna, E., & Fein, D. A. (2022). Online administration of the ADOS for research with adolescents and adults in response to the pandemic. Autism Res, 15(10), 1909-1916. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2791 Taverna, E. C., Huedo-Medina, T. B., Fein, D. A., & Eigsti, I. M. (2021). The interaction of fine motor, gesture, and structural language skills: The case of autism spectrum disorder. Res Autism Spectr Disord, 86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101824 |
Jason Crutcher (2018) Before coming to UConn, Jason worked with Alex Martin at NIMH, studying how structural differences in the brain relate to abnormalities in language and social cognition for autistic individuals. His research interests include language dysfunction and the neural mechanisms underlying language abilities in autism. Publications Eigsti, I. M., Thomas, R. P., Stabile, M., Mohan, A., Dieckhaus, M. F. S., Crutcher, J., Taverna, E., & Fein, D. A. (2022). Online administration of the ADOS for research with adolescents and adults in response to the pandemic. Autism Res, 15(10), 1909-1916. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2791 Larson, C., Thomas, H. R., Crutcher, J., Stevens, M. C., & Eigsti, I.-M. (2023). Language Networks in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review of connectivity-based fMRI studies. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-023-00382-6 |
Hannah Thomas (2020) Hannah's research interests include the neural mechanisms underlying language development in ASD as well as the neural and behavioral presentations of comorbidities in autism (e.g., anxiety, ADHD). Before joining UConn, Hannah worked with So Hyun “Sophy” Kim at Weill Cornell Medicine on studies of predictors of school readiness in kindergarteners with autism, and the neuronal and behavioral correlates of ASD and ADHD. Publications Kim, S.H., Buzzell, G., Faja, S., Choi, Y.B., Thomas, H.R., Brito, N. H., Shuffrey, L.C., Fifer, W.P., Morrison, F., Lord, C., & Fox, N. (In press). Neural dynamics of executive function in cognitively-able kindergarteners with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) as predictors of concurrent academic achievement. Autism. Larson, C., Thomas, H. R., Crutcher, J., Stevens, M. C., & Eigsti, I.-M. (2023). Language networks in autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review of connectivity-based fMRI studies. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-023-00382-6 Lee., K.S., Chung, S.J., Thomas, H.R., Park, J., & Kim, S.H. (2019). Exploring diagnostic validity of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2) in South Korean toddlers and preschoolers. Autism Research, 12, 1356-1366.
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Rebecca Canale (2021) Rebecca (Becca)'s research interests include the cognitive and environmental factors underlying language and communication in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Previously, she worked with Richard Aslin at Haskins Laboratories (Yale University), coordinating behavioral and neuroimaging studies of language processing in neurotypical infants, children, and adults. Her MS project examines the interaction of higher-order cognitive processes and gesture abilities in youth and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Publications Canale, R. (2022). The importance of statistical learning. Nature Reviews Psychology, 1, 68. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-021-00010-2 Girolamo, T., Butler, L., Canale, R., Aslin, R. N., & Eigsti, I. M. (2023). fNIRS studies of individuals with speech and language impairment underreport participant sociodemographics: A systematic review. Neuropsychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-023-09618-y (Preregistration doi: 10.31234/osf.io/akrcp) McMurray, B., Sarrett, M. E., Chiu, S., Black, A. K., Wang, A., Canale, R., & Aslin, R. N. (2022). Decoding the temporal dynamics of spoken word and nonword processing from EEG. Neuroimage, 260, 119457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119457 |
Gabrielle Michel (2022) Before coming to UConn, Gabrielle worked with Drs. Dwight Dickinson and Karen Berman at NIMH, studying cognition and genetics in Williams syndrome and schizophrenia. She also conducted neuropsychological testing with these populations. Gabrielle’s research interests include language development, social communication, and sign language use in autism spectrum disorder. She is also interested in accessible and parent-mediated interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders. |
The lab (2019)
The lab (2019)
Lab zoom (2020)
Lab zoom (2020)
Lab bowling 2014
The lab goes bowling (2014)
bowling2015-1
The lab bowls (2015)
CALL Lab (2023)
CALL Lab (2023)
INSAR (2023)
INSAR (2023)
Undergraduate Lab Members
2021-2022 | Margaux Acorda
Aditi Sirsikar Karina Patel Amanda Yagan Chinedu Nwko |
2022-2023 | Karina Patel
Marissa Birmingham Olivia Kapustka Talia Szozda Alyssa Daniels Alexis Trojahn |
2023-2024 | Marissa Birmingham
Karina Patel Malak Nechnach Chloe Kardoos David Gyamfi Rachael Roizer Wilfred Wisdom |
2020-2021 | Margaux Acorda Jacey Anderson Aditi Sirsikar |
2014-2015 | Parah Shah (Pre-med) Didem Ozcan (PNB/Bio) Morgan Smith (pre-med) Ryan Morris (Pre-med) |
2009-2010 | Caitlin Dombrowski: (Honors) UConn, Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology Jose Casares: Teachers College/Columbia University, Counseling Psychology Danielle Loughrey Liz Tzatkin: Research Assistant Kathryn Post: Research Assistant Juliana Hartley: Teach for America (Honors); MA student in Speech-Language Pathology at Univ New Hampshire |
2019-2020 | Klaudia Ptaszek Harkaran Dhillon Jacey Anderson Aditi Sirsikar |
Summer 2014 | Molly Waterhouse (Syracuse University) Griffen Burrows (Wheaton College) |
2008-2009 | Justine Marsh: Practicing Speech-Language Pathologist, CT Ashley Lepack Terry Gustafson: Pre-med Lauren Long: Ph.D. program in Behavioral Neuroscience, UConn |
2019-2018 | Anusha Mohan Ariana Caruso Roisin Healy Holly Labrecque Regina Weissenberg |
2013-2014 | Emily Thompson (SURF grant, Honors Program) Katy Piotrowski (Honors Program) |
2007-2008 | Jessica St. Pierre David Roy David Morrow Heather Washburn Kim Markoff Kim Hayhurst Stefanie Riegler |
2017-2018 | Ariana Caruso Holly Labrecque Regina Weissenberg Abigail Sapiro Sindhu Dokuru (M.A., Healthcare Administration) |
2012-2013 | Christopher Andrade (Ling Major); English Teaching in Japan (JET Program) Allison Fitch (Psych/Human Development): Ph.D. in Developmental and Brain Sciences at UMass Boston, 2012 Amanda Makol (Pre-med) Emily Thompson (SLSH) |
2006-2007 | Kayla Marot Mark Rogalski Melissa Martinez Corey Alexa Tuhina Joseph |
2016-2017 | Parah Shah (pre-med) Snigdha Wadhwa (pre-med) Sindhu Dokuru (pre-med) Tanya Rao (pre-med) Caitlin Emmett (SLHS) Meghan Robitaille (SLHS) |
2011-2012 | Christopher Andrade (Ling Major) Allison Fitch (Psych/Human Development): Ph.D. in Developmental and Brain Sciences at UMass Boston, 2012 Amanda Makol (Pre-med) Emily Thompson (SLSH) Bonnie Stas |
2005-2006 | Lauren Czepizak Cara Orazietti Judith Shulman Stephanie Ceniccola |
2015-2016 | Parah Shah (pre-med) Morgan Smith (pre-med) Ryan Morris (pre-med) Snigdha Wadhwa (pre-med) Sindhu Dokuru (pre-med) Molly Waterman (IGERT Program Assistant) Jessa Sahl (post-bac RA in the lab of Bonnie Nozari at Johns Hopkins) |
2010-2011 | Elira Fifo, 2010 Danielle Daley (Honors) Kaitlin De Yoe (Honors, SURF award) Karissa Burgess Sonia Altavilla Abby Morriso |
2004-2005 | Nojan Bakhtiari (pre-dental) Lisa Cataudella Jessica Bennett Kelly Chang |
INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
Lab Alumni
Jillian deGroot Schuh (Ph.D., 2011) Assistant Adjunct Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin; Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Catalpa Health, Appleton, WI | Ashley de Marchena (Ph.D., 2013) Assistant Professor, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA | Jessica Bean Jaworski (Ph.D., 2013) Instructor of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School; Neuropsychologist, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA |
Jessica Mayo (Ph.D., 2014) Assistant Professor of Clinical Child Psychology, Yale School of Medicine | Christina Irvine (Ph.D., 2016) Clinical Psychologist, Portland, Oregon | Brian Castelluccio (Ph.D., 2018) Clinical Assistant Professor, Brown University Medical Center |
Allison Canfield (Ph.D., 2018) Assistant Professor, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY | Joshua Green (Ph.D., 2019) Clinical Psychologist, Saratoga Springs, NY |
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