Amanda Hahn

Amanda Hahn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at California Polytechnic State University, Humboldt. She holds affiliations with the Behavioral Endocrinology Research Lab (BERL) and is an affiliate member of the Face Research Lab at the University of Glasgow. Her research focuses on the neurobiological basis of human social perceptions, particularly how hormones regulate responses to infant cues. Dr. Hahn’s academic journey includes a PhD in Psychology & Neuroscience from the University of St Andrews (2013), a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Glasgow, and undergraduate degrees from the University of California, Irvine. She teaches courses in neuroscience and the Academic Research Master’s program, emphasizing critical engagement with empirical research. Her lab explores topics such as hormonal influences on parental care motivation, facial processing deficits in individuals with cleft lip/palate, and the psychological effects of hormonal contraceptives. Notably, her work bridges endocrinology, cognitive neuroscience, and developmental psychology to understand human behavior and perception.

Education:

• PhD in Psychology & Neuroscience, University of St Andrews (2013)
• MA in Experimental Psychology, Western Washington University
• BA in Psychology & BS in Biology, University of California, Irvine

Research Interests: Hormonal regulation of social behaviors, infant facial processing, effects of facial anomalies (e.g., cleft lip/palate), and the interplay between hormones and parental motivation. Her lab (BERL) employs neuroimaging and behavioral methods to study these topics.

Key Contributions: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles, including studies on testosterone’s role in paternal care, hormonal contraceptive effects on female competition, and neural processing differences in infant face recognition among individuals with facial malformations.