Meghan H. Puglia, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurology, Neurology
Bio & Overview
Research in the Puglia Developmental Neuroanayltics Lab focuses on early brain development and neurodevelopmental outcomes, with an emphasis on longitudinal infant neuroimaging, epigenetics, and quantitative approaches. Research examines how early experiences, caregiving, and environmental contexts shape neural organization and variability, particularly in preterm and at-risk neurodevelopmental populations.
Academic Information
- Department
- Neurology
Primary Education
- PhD, undefinedUniversity of Virginia, 2019
Research Interests
Research Disciplines
- Data Science in Medicine
- Epigenetics
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences
- Psychology
Research Opportunities
- Epigenetics
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
PhD Programs
- Neuroscience
Selected Publications
2021
Aykan, S., Puglia, M. H., Kalaycioglu, C., Pelphrey, K. A., Tuncali, T., & Nalcaci, E. (2022). Right Anterior Theta Hypersynchrony as a Quantitative Measure Associated with Autistic Traits and K-Cl Cotransporter KCC2 Polymorphism. JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS, 52(1), 61-72. doi:10.1007/s10803-021-04924-x
2020
Puglia, M. H., Krol, K. M., Missana, M., Williams, C. L., Lillard, T. S., Morris, J. P., . . . Grossmann, T. (2020). Epigenetic tuning of brain signal entropy in emergent human social behavior. BMC MEDICINE, 18(1). doi:10.1186/s12916-020-01683-x
2019
Krol, K. M., Puglia, M. H., Morris, J. P., Connelly, J. J., & Grossmann, T. (2019). Epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor gene is associated with emotion processing in the infant brain. DEVELOPMENTAL COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE, 37. doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2019.100648
2018
Lancaster, K., Goldbeck, L., Puglia, M. H., Morris, J. P., & Connelly, J. J. (2018). DNA methylation of OXTR is associated with parasympathetic nervous system activity and amygdala morphology. SOCIAL COGNITIVE AND AFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE, 13(11), 1155-1162. doi:10.1093/scan/nsy086
Perkeybile, A. M., Carter, C. S., Wroblewski, K. L., Puglia, M. H., Kenkel, W. M., Lillard, T. S., . . . Connelly, J. J. (2019). Early nurture epigenetically tunes the oxytocin receptor. PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, 99, 128-136. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.08.037
Puglia, M. H., Connelly, J. J., & Morris, J. P. (2018). Epigenetic regulation of the oxytocin receptor is associated with neural response during selective social attention. TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY, 8. doi:10.1038/s41398-018-0159-x
2017
Gonzalez, M. Z., Puglia, M. H., Morris, J. P., & Connelly, J. J. (2019). Oxytocin receptor genotype and low economic privilege reverses ventral striatum-social anxiety association. SOCIAL NEUROSCIENCE, 14(1), 67-79. doi:10.1080/17470919.2017.1403954
Puglia, M. H., & Morris, J. P. (2017). Neural Response to Biological Motion in Healthy Adults Varies as a Function of Autistic-Like Traits. FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE, 11. doi:10.3389/fnins.2017.00404
2015
Puglia, M. H., Lillard, T. S., Morris, J. P., & Connelly, J. J. (2015). Epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor gene influences the perception of anger and fear in the human brain. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 112(11), 3308-3313. doi:10.1073/pnas.1422096112