Gorica Petrovich

Gorica Petrovich is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Boston College, with joint affiliation in Neuroscience. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California and directs the Neurobiology of Feeding Behavior Laboratory. Her research examines cognitive and hedonic control of food motivation using multidisciplinary approaches.

Research Focus: Dr. Petrovich investigates neural mechanisms underlying feeding behavior, including:

• Modulation of hunger/satiety by learning and stress
• Sex and age differences in motivational systems
• Neural plasticity in cognitive control circuits
• Forebrain-hypothalamic connectivity

Her work combines behavioral neuroscience, systems neuroanatomy, and learning theory.

Publication Trends: Recent articles demonstrate consistent focus on sex-specific neural circuitry in feeding behavior, with emerging emphasis on thalamic regulation and cross-species validation of motivational mechanisms.

Laboratory: Leads the Neurobiology of Feeding Behavior Laboratory, utilizing electrophysiological, pharmacological, and behavioral techniques to study adaptive control of feeding.