معرفی
Dr. Erin Hecht is an Assistant Professor at Harvard University, leading the Evolutionary Neuroscience Lab. Her research focuses on how selection pressures shape brain evolution, particularly in domesticated animals (dogs, foxes) and primates. She investigates neural correlates of learned behaviors, plasticity during skill acquisition, and the interplay between brain anatomy and behavioral predispositions. Her work integrates neuroimaging (MRI, DTI), histology, and behavioral assays to explore evolutionary mechanisms.
Key research themes include domestication's impact on brain morphology, communication pathways in canines, and neurobiological underpinnings of human cognitive evolution. She has pioneered studies on white matter tracts linked to social behavior in dogs and vocal communication in chimpanzees. Collaborative projects bridge evolutionary neuroscience with real-world applications, such as optimizing working dog training and understanding welfare consequences of selective breeding.
Dr. Hecht’s recent studies emphasize longitudinal effects of early social environments on primate brain development and the molecular signatures of language training in non-human primates. Her work frequently integrates cross-species comparisons to uncover general principles of brain-behavior relationships.
Funding includes an NSF CAREER Award (2023) for integrating brain-behavior evolution with science outreach through working dogs. She advocates for highlighting diverse STEM experiences via social media, emphasizing inclusivity in scientific discourse.
