Kristina Aldridge , PhD
- Associate Professor Pathology and Anatomical Sciences
- Adjunct Assistant Professor Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Research
- Accepting new advisees Is accepting new doctoral advisees
Areas of expertise
- Computational Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Translational/Clinical Neuroscience
Research Summary
Dr. Kristina Aldridge investigates the brain in three dimensions. She uses three-dimensional mapping to research autism spectrum disorder. Working with engineers and medical researchers, she tested the hypothesis that autism-causing genes simultaneously affect early development of the brain and face and discovered distinct subtypes of facial measurements in children with autism. She is also working to better understand craniosynostosis, a disorder that changes the shape of the skull and the brain in infants. She uses computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and 3D photography to test the theory that prenatal skull and brain interaction causes the change in shape.
In addition to brain disorders, Dr. Aldridge works to understand brain evolution. Using 3D imaging, she studies brain shape variation among humans and other primates, including chimpanzees, gorillas and groups of monkeys. Capturing patterns among the different species sheds light on the unique evolutionary history of the human brain.