Washington State University · PsychologyGartstein Lab
Maria A. Gartstein · Pullman, Washington
Research Focus
Dr. Maria A. Gartstein's research lab focuses on understanding how early life experiences and brain development contribute to anxiety disorders. Through the study of infants' fear responses and the impact of maternal sensitivity, the lab aims to uncover the neurophysiological markers associated with anxiety. By examining how brain activation patterns and behavioral changes interact during infancy, the lab seeks to inform preventive strategies for anxiety disorders later in life.
anxiety disordersinfant behaviormaternal sensitivityelectroencephalographyfear development
Research Aims
4AIM 01Model the relationship between infant fearfulness and maternal sensitivity using EEG and behavioral assessments.
AIM 02Quantify changes in infant fear and its neurophysiological markers to understand anxiety onset.
AIM 03Examine the moderating effects of maternal sensitivity on the emergence of anxiety symptoms.
AIM 04Investigate the neurophysiological signature of fearful temperament across infancy.
Skills the Lab Values
EEG recordingbehavioral assessmentslongitudinal study designdata modelingobservational research
Output against the department
Publications173top 42% of dept.123rd of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations8.2ktop 37% of dept.110th of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.