Christa McIntyre, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience
School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Email: christa.mcintyre@utdallas.edu

DEBORA CALDERON – PhD Candidate
Role of the Locus Coeruleus on Vagus Nerve Stimulation Enhanced Fear Extinction

Debora examines the effects of optogenetic inhibition of the locus coeruleus on vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) enhanced extinction of conditioned fear in rats.

YA-YU HU – earned PhD in 2025
Thesis titled: Mechanisms of Glucocorticoid-Mediated Stress-Induced Migraine

Ya-Yu investigates the role of glucocorticoids and the HPA axis in repetitive restraint stress-induced migraine-like behaviors through pharmacological manipulations and behavioral tests in mouse models.

MELISSA KRAUTH – PhD student

Melissa studies fear and anxiety in a genetic rat model of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

TABITHA RISTVEDT – PhD student

Tabitha examines potential mechanisms of VNS-enhanced memory using in-vivo recording techniques. She is currently focused on using fiber photometry to examine norepinephrine dynamics during VNS-paired behavior.