David Amaral

David Amaral is Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at UC Davis, specializing in neurodevelopmental disorders research. His laboratory investigates neural mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with particular focus on amygdala development, neuroinflammation pathways, and early biomarkers.

Amaral's work integrates neuroimaging, primate models, and clinical studies to identify structural brain alterations in ASD. Recent projects examine how maternal immune activation influences fetal brain development and subsequent behavioral outcomes.

He directs research initiatives examining longitudinal trajectories of brain development in autistic children and leads tissue banking efforts through Autism BrainNet. Amaral's work has contributed to understanding atypical neurodevelopment across diagnostic subgroups.