Justin Moscarello

Justin Moscarello is an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University, affiliated with the Institute for Neuroscience. His research focuses on understanding neural mechanisms underlying learning and memory conflicts, particularly in active avoidance behavior and emotional memory disorders like PTSD. He employs techniques such as optogenetics and DREADDs to study how brain circuits resolve competing memory systems.

Research interests include the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms of aversive memory, defensive behavior, and the impact of stress on avoidance learning. His work combines behavioral experiments with advanced neuroscientific methods to explore how memory systems interact to influence adaptive behavior.

Recent studies highlight his exploration of subcortical mechanisms in safety-seeking behavior, sex-dependent stress effects on avoidance, and the role of brain regions like the ventral hippocampus and central amygdala. His lab investigates translational implications for anxiety, trauma, and resilience.

No scientific awards are explicitly listed, but his contributions to neuroscience are evident through his publications. He accepts students for 2024-2025 and leads the Moscarello Lab, focusing on rodent models and cutting-edge neurotechnology integration.