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 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. 2025 Aug 05; 1-17. PMID: 40763348.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/1/2025

    Jagger-Rickels A, Kearns J, Evans T, Rothlein D, Bryan CJ, Milberg WP, Fortier CB, DeGutis J, Esterman M. Brain Activation During Suicide-Specific Cognition in Trauma-Exposed Veterans. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2025 Jun; 55(3):e70018. PMID: 40400218.

    Read at: PubMed

  • 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 2/18/2025

    Castelo N, Kushlev K, Ward AF, Esterman M, Reiner PB. Blocking mobile internet on smartphones improves sustained attention, mental health, and subjective well-being. PNAS Nexus. 2025 Feb; 4(2):pgaf017. PMID: 39967678.

    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

Other Positions

  • Health Science Specialist, National Center for PTSD
    VA Boston Healthcare System
  • 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