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 4/4/2026

    Nanni-Zepeda M, Evans TC, Jagger-Rickels A, Raz G, Hendler T, Fan Y, Grimm S, Walter M, Esterman M, Zuberer A. Generalizable Neural Models of Emotional Engagement and Disengagement. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2026 Apr 04. PMID: 41936092.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/1/2026

    Campbell A, Esterman M, DeGutis J. Perceptual heterogeneity in developmental prosopagnosia: The role of the right OFA. Neuropsychologia. 2026 Apr 01; 228:109442. PMID: 41932575.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/13/2026

    Blumberg MJ, Esterman M, Johnston K, Wattie N, Brough J, Atkison R, Baker J, Wojtowicz M. Sport-specific demands on sustained attention in elite athletes: a novel within-subjects approach for investigation. Front Sports Act Living. 2026; 8:1765258. PMID: 41908217.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 11/14/2025

    Campbell A, Li X, Rothlein D, Esterman M, DeGutis J. Left hemisphere abnormalities in face-selective activation and functional connectivity in developmental prosopagnosia. Imaging Neurosci (Camb). 2025; 3. PMID: 41255467.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/5/2025

    Evans TC, Rubin M, Arora J, Agnoli S, Jagger-Rickels A, Albanese B, DeGutis J, Britton JC, Esterman M. Eliciting social approach-avoidance conflict within a novel experimental paradigm: psychometric and computational evidence with a successful pre-registered replication. Cogn Emot. 2026 May; 40(3):667-683. PMID: 40763348.

    Read at: PubMed

Other Positions

  • Health Science Specialist, National Center for PTSD
    VA Boston Healthcare System
  • Graduate Medical Sciences Educator and Mentor (Primary Mentor of Graduate Students)
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

Education

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