Edward Justin Modestino

Edward Justin Modestino, Ph.D., M.S., is a Senior Lecturer of Psychology and Codirector of the EEG Lab at Curry College's Department of Psychology. He has been teaching in the Psychology department since 2016, offering courses including Introduction to Psychology, Child Development, Motivation, Research Methods in Psychology, and various specialized courses related to neuroscience and mental health.

• Senior Lecturer of Psychology
• Codirector of EEG Lab
• Director of Brain & Behavior Laboratory
• Faculty Member since 2016

Dr. Modestino's educational background includes degrees from Harvard (1997), University of Pennsylvania (1999, 2001), Florida Atlantic University (2009 - Ph.D. in Complex Systems and Brain Sciences), and University of Massachusetts Boston (2021 - M.S. in Mental Health Counseling). He completed postdoctoral research fellowships in neuroimaging at the University of Virginia (Psychiatry, 2010-2012) and Boston University (Neurology, 2013-2015).

His research program focuses on three interconnected areas: (1) combining multiple neuroimaging techniques to study Parkinson's disease, particularly examining side-of-onset differences and Hoehn and Yahr staging; (2) investigating the connection between ADHD and narcolepsy/hypersomnia within the framework of Reward Deficiency Syndrome; and (3) exploring empathy and rejection sensitivity dysphoria in ADHD. Dr. Modestino has extensive experience with EEG research dating back to 1991, when he trained at Harvard Medical School's Department of Psychiatry.

His publication record shows a strong focus on the intersection of neuroimaging, dopaminergic pathways, and various neurological and psychiatric conditions. Recent work (2023-2025) increasingly explores genetic connections between ADHD and narcolepsy, the effects of GLP-1 agonists on neurological conditions, and the application of KB220 variants for treating Reward Deficiency Syndrome. His research often bridges clinical practice with neuroscience, particularly in understanding how dopaminergic mechanisms underlie various behavioral and cognitive phenomena.

Dr. Modestino serves in editorial roles for several academic journals:

• Associate Editor for the Journal of Addiction Science
• Editorial Board Member for Current Psychopharmacology
• Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Personalized Medicine
• Editorial Board Member of INNOSC Theragnostics and Pharmacological Sciences

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Dr. Modestino maintains a clinical practice in Stoughton, MA, integrating his neuroscience expertise with therapeutic approaches. His work with students includes teaching a wide range of psychology courses while mentoring research through the EEG Lab and his Brain & Behavior Laboratory. His research has received attention globally, with clinicians worldwide reaching out to discuss his work on rejection sensitivity dysphoria in ADHD patients.

Dr. Modestino codirects Curry College's EEG Lab, which he took over after Dr. Steinberg's retirement, and directs his own Brain & Behavior Laboratory. His laboratory work combines multiple neuroimaging techniques to investigate Parkinson's disease, ADHD, and narcolepsy, with particular attention to how these conditions relate to the brain's reward system and dopaminergic pathways.