Socioecological Neuroscience Lab
About Our Program
The Socioecological Neuroscience Lab at the Psychiatry Research Institute at Montefiore Einstein (PRIME) studies how the brain embodies complex social structures and how these social structures and an individual’s position within them influence pain, emotion and health. Our work bridges cognitive neuroscience and computational modeling with social epidemiology and pain medicine through both neuroimaging and extensive online studies. Ultimately, we hope this work informs clinical interventions and policy changes that will promote health equity.
Areas of Concentration
Under the leadership of Dr. Marianne C. Reddan, the Socioecological Neuroscience Lab conducts research on social cognitive neuroscience, emotion representation and biomarker development. The lab aims to influence health equity through neuroimaging and large-group studies.
Current Projects & Research
Our team is actively involved in clinical research, evaluations and collaborations. The lab is affiliated with:
- Hamza Zahurullah, a medical student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and her project, Chronic Pain Prevalence and Global Income Inequality: A Meta-Analysis
- Jasmin Richard, Research Assistant at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and her project, Neighborhood-Level Deprivation Influences Pain-Related Brain Activity
Current student research projects explore the following queries:
- Can priming positive or negative memories related to socioeconomic experiences influence pain in the brain?
- What is the relationship between life course trauma and pain endurance?
- Does early life attachment distress influence pain in adulthood?
- Do environmental pollutants and proximity to major roadways affect pain and brain structure?
About Marianne C. Reddan, MA, PhD
Marianne C. Reddan, MA, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Marianne Reddan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She is a cognitive and affective neuroscientist whose research integrates functional magnetic resonance imaging with pain neuroscience and reinforcement learning. Her work has implications for both health programs and public policy.
Dr. Reddan earned PhDs in psychology and neuroscience, with certificates in cognitive science and quantitative methods in behavioral sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she also completed her MA in psychology and neuroscience. She holds a BA in psychology with honors from New York University. Committed to education and mentorship, Dr. Reddan has extensive teaching experience across a wide variety of classroom settings and actively supports the development of future scientists through mentoring. Her research has been published in leading journals, reflecting her dedication to advancing knowledge at the intersection of neuroscience, social cognition and health disparities.