Adam Brockett, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Adam Brockett is a neuroscientist interested in how experiences, such as exercise, drug use, or aging, change the form and function of the brain. His most recent research and teaching focuses on the role exercise plays in remodeling neural circuits critical for supporting cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control. Dr. Brockett teaches courses at the intersection of the brain, behavior, and cognition.
Education
Ph.D. Princeton University, 2017
M.A. Princeton University, 2014
B.S. University of Maryland, College Park, 2011
Areas of Specialization: Experience-dependent plasticity, exercise, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control
Research Publications
Brockett AT, Sciarillo X, Li X, Roesch MR (2025) Healthy aging in rats is associated with a decline in the ability to inhibit maladaptive responses, but not in measures of self-control by delayed gratification. Front. Aging Neurosci. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2025.1579934.
Brockett AT & Francis NA (2024) Psilocybin decreases neural responsiveness and increases functional connectivity while preserving pure-tone frequency selectivity in mouse auditory cortex. J. Neurophysiol. doi: 10.1152/jn.00124.2024.
Brockett AT, Kumar N, Sharalla P, Roesch MR (2024) Optogenetic inhibition of the orbitofrontal cortex disrupts inhibitory control during stop-change performance in male rats. eNeuro. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0015-24.2024.
Brockett AT, Tennyson SS, deBettencourt CA, Kallmyer M, Roesch MR (2022) Medial prefrontal-cortex lesions disrupt prepotent action selection signals in dorsomedial striatum. Curr Biol. 32(15): 3276-3287. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.06.025.
Brockett AT, Tennyson SS, DeBettencourt CA, Gaye F, Roesch MR (2020) Anterior cingulate cortex is necessary for adaptation of action plans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. 117(11): 6196-6204. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1919303117.
Brockett AT, LaMarca EA, Gould E (2015) Physical exercise enhances cognitive flexibility as well as astrocytic and synaptic markers in the medial prefrontal cortex. PLOS One. 10(5): e0124859. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124859.