Ryan Parsons

Dr. Ryan Parsons is an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Neuroscience at Stony Brook University, where he leads the Parsons Lab. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2008) and specializes in the neurobiological mechanisms of fear learning and memory consolidation using rodent models.

His research focuses on understanding how prior experiences influence subsequent learning, particularly in contexts of fear conditioning, anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Techniques employed include pharmacological interventions, chemogenetics, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology to study neural plasticity in brain circuits involved in fear acquisition, extinction, and reconsolidation.

Key research interests include fear learning modulation, memory maintenance, and individual variability in fear extinction recall. His work bridges basic neuroscience with translational implications for anxiety-related psychopathologies.

Dr. Parsons actively mentors graduate students and reviews applications for the 2024-2025 academic year. The Parsons Lab is located in Psychology A-341 at Stony Brook University, Long Island, NY.