Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Research Laboratory

About the Program

The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Psychophysiology Research Lab at Mass General Brigham is comprised of two collaborating laboratories with a combined research focus on the psychophysiological and neuroimaging underpinnings of PTSD.

Our Research Focus

The research conducted at the PTSD Psychophysiology Research Laboratory seeks to understand the causes of PTSD, effective treatments, and preventative measures that can be employed to prevent its occurrence. Our collaborating laboratories include:

• Postpartum Traumatic Stress Disorders Research Program (Dekel Lab) (PI: Sharon Dekel, PhD). The Dekel Laboratory studies women’s mental health following the landmark event of childbirth, including traumatic childbirth, and the mechanisms responsible for postpartum adjustment. Current studies include defining postpartum PTSD and its implications for maternal wellness and child development; preventing childbirth-related PTSD via expressive writing; preventing postpartum depression using oxytocin; and global initiatives studying maternal mental health in Israel and Nigeria.
• Home Base Research Program (PI: Kaloyan Tanev, MD). The Home Base Research Program has multiple active studies recruiting among veterans, active duty servicemembers, and civilians, for individuals with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and healthy controls. Studies involve combined medication and therapeutic interventions for PTSD, electroencephalography (EEG), polysomnography (PSG), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the measurement of electrodermal activity (EDA) and heart rate variability (HRV), and the use of wearable technology to track psychophysiological, neurophysiological, biomarkers, and other biological signs of PTSD and TBI.

Research Projects

• Postpartum Traumatic Stress Disorders Research Program (Dekel Lab) (PI: Sharon Dekel, PhD). For more information about ongoing projects, please visit here.
  You may also contact our research team directly by emailing sdekel@mgh.harvard.edu or calling 617-726-1352.
• Home Base Research Program (PI: Kaloyan Tanev, MD). For more information about ongoing projects, please visit here.
  You may also contact our Home Base Research Team directly by emailing homebaseresearch@mgb.org.

Our Researchers

Sharon Dekel, PhD
Co-Director

Kaloyan Tanev, MD
Co-Director

Tal Elhasid Felsenstein, MD
Postdoctoral Fellow

Maya Zegel, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow

Scott P. Orr, PhD
Emeritus Founding Director

Roger K. Pitman, MD
Emeritus Founding Director