Michael Ragozzino

Michael Ragozzino is a Professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). His research focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying learning, memory, and behavioral flexibility, with a particular emphasis on autism spectrum disorders (ASD). He investigates neural circuits involving the prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and striatum, employing pharmacological, neurochemical, and functional imaging techniques. His work combines animal models (e.g., BTBR and SHANK3 mice) with human studies to understand repetitive behaviors and cognitive inflexibility in ASD. Key interests include testing novel treatments targeting serotonergic and cholinergic systems.

Education: PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Virginia and BA in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati. He is actively recruiting doctoral students for Fall 2024 admissions.

Research highlights include studies on muscarinic cholinergic receptor agonists for cognitive enhancement, 5-HT receptor modulation in ASD mouse models, and neural correlates of behavioral flexibility using functional brain imaging. His lab also explores the impact of environmental factors like prenatal stress and periodontal pathogens on neurobehavioral outcomes.

Recent publications span topics such as oxytocin’s anxiolytic effects, glutamate dynamics in striatal subregions, and familial patterns of cognitive deficits in ASD. He collaborates on translational projects linking preclinical findings to human neuroimaging and clinical trials.