David Beversdorf

David Beversdorf is a Professor at the University of Missouri, holding appointments in the departments of Radiology, Neurology, and Psychology. He is affiliated with the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, where he leads the Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (Suite 110). His academic career includes foundational training at Indiana University, a neurology residency at Dartmouth, and a behavioral neurology fellowship at the University of Florida. Prior to joining the University of Missouri, he served on the faculty at Ohio State University.

Research interests center on autism spectrum disorder, with a multidisciplinary approach spanning cognitive neuroscience, functional neuroimaging (fMRI), and neuropsychopharmacology. Key focus areas include stress-cognition interactions, pharmacological modulation of cognitive flexibility (e.g., propranolol studies), gene-environment interactions in autism development, and prenatal stress impacts. His work bridges clinical and translational neuroscience, aiming to identify biomarkers and novel treatments.

His publications (2017–2022) demonstrate strong trends in autism research, particularly:

• Neuroimaging biomarkers (fMRI, MR spectroscopy) for autism and stress responses
• Pharmacological interventions targeting noradrenergic systems
• Prenatal stress, immune dysregulation, and genetic interactions
• Gut-brain axis mechanisms in autism comorbidities

Grant support includes funding from:

• National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS)
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• Department of Defense (DoD)
• Stallone Fund
• National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR)

The Cognitive Neuroscience Lab investigates autism, dementia, stress-related cognitive changes, problem-solving neuroscience, and pharmacological modulation of cognition. The lab collaborates with the University of Missouri's Brain Imaging Center.