One of the promising avenues of inquiry into the role of sex as a biological variable in stress response is the relationship between sex steroids (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone) and emotional processing. Our laboratory examines this using endocrine measures and behavioral tasks exploring such processes as fear learning, extinction, and generalization, and emotional regulation.

Currently, a Binational Science Fund (BSF) funded study is underway examining the relationship between natural fluctuation in estrogen, neural function, and fear overgeneralization among trauma-exposed women. The study is being conducted at the University of Haifa Neuroimaging Unit at the Rambam Health Care Campus, and is in collaboration with Prof. Yuval Neria, head of the PTSD and Trauma program at Columbia Psychiatry and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. 

If you are interested in participating - please follow this link.

Stress related disorders (depression, anxiety, PTSD) a show a gender disparity, with higher prevalence among women, particularly in the years between menarche and menopause. The relationship to both sex steroids (biological factor) and roles women fulfill during these years (psychosocial factors) begs a multi-pronged, developmental model. Our lab thus investigates the relationship between stress, trauma, and developmental transitions such as puberty, pregnancy, parenting, and peri-menopause.