Michael S. Esterman, PhD

Associate Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

My research uses a variety of cognitive neuroscience techniques to understand basic mechanisms of attention and executive function, as well as to understand PTSD and other neuropsychiatric disorders.

Publications

  • Published 4/11/2025

    Esterman M, Agnoli S, Evans TC, Jagger-Rickels A, Rothlein D, Guida C, Hughes C, DeGutis J. Characterizing the effects of emotional distraction on sustained attention and subsequent memory: A novel emotional gradual onset continuous performance task. Behav Res Methods. 2025 Apr 11; 57(5):141. PMID: 40216687.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 10/4/2024

    Clauss K, Cheney T, Somohano VC, Hannon S, DeGutis J, Esterman M, Constans J, O'Neil M. When the attention control condition works: A systematic review of attention control training for posttraumatic stress disorder. J Trauma Stress. 2025 Feb; 38(1):16-28. PMID: 39365277.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 9/30/2024

    Knoff AA, Nowak MK, Van Etten EJ, Andreu-Arasa VC, Esterman M, Leritz EC, Fortenbaugh FC, Milberg WP, Fortier CB, Salat DH. Metabolic syndrome is associated with reduced default mode network functional connectivity in young post-9/11 Veterans. Brain Imaging Behav. 2024 Dec; 18(6):1499-1508. PMID: 39347938.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/29/2024

    Agnoli S, Mahncke H, Grant SJ, Goodman ZT, Milberg WP, Esterman M, DeGutis J. Negative global metacognitive biases are associated with depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and improve with targeted or game-based cognitive training. Neuropsychology. 2024 Oct; 38(7):622-636. PMID: 39207438.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/1/2024

    DeGutis J, Sullivan DR, Agnoli S, Stumps A, Logue M, Brown E, Verfaellie M, Milberg W, McGlinchey R, Esterman M. Less is more: Smaller hippocampal subfield volumes predict greater improvements in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms over 2 years. Behav Neurosci. 2024 Apr; 138(2):94-107. PMID: 38661669.

    Read at: PubMed

Other Positions

  • Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

Education

  • University of California, Berkeley, PhD
  • University of Pennsylvania, BA