Dr. Edward J. Schicatano

Professor, Coordinator of Neuroscience Program, Co-director of NeuroTraining & Research Center

Courses: Behavioral Neuroscience, Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, General Psychology, Psychology Capstone Peak Performance Coaching

Education:

• 1982-1986

• B.A., Psychology, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, PA

• 1987-1989

• M.A. Psychology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC

• Advisor: Dr. Terry D. Blumenthal

• 1990-1994

• Ph.D., Neuroscience, Wake Forest University Medical Center

• Advisor: Dr. Terry D. Blumenthal

Research Interests:

Effects of Emotions on Pain Perception

Cognitive Habituation as a Window into the Brain’s Attentional Systems

 

Professional Societies:

Society for Neurosciences, 1990-present

Society for Psychophysiological Research, 1993-present

Eastern Psychological Association, 1999-present

Publications:

Schicatano, E.J. Effects of Caffeine on the Trigeminal Blink Reflex. Perceptual and Motor Skills (2005), 100, 493-496..

Schicatano, E.J., Mantzouranis, J., Peshori, K.R., Partin, J., & Evinger, C.:  Lid Restraint Evokes Two Types of Motor Adaptation. Journal of Neuroscience (2002), 22, 569-576.

Schicatano, E.J., Peshori, K.R., Gopalaswamy, R., Sahay, E., & Evinger, C.: Reflex Excitability Regulates Prepulse Inhibition.  Journal of Neuroscience, (2000), 20, 4240-4247.

Schicatano, E.J., & Blumenthal, T.D.: The Effects of Caffeine and Directed Attention on Acoustic Startle Habituation. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, (1998), 59, 145-150.

Schicatano, E.J., Basso, M.A., & Evinger, C.: Animal Model Explains the Origins of the Cranial Dystonia Benign Essential Blepharospasm. Journal of  Neurophysiology, (1997), 77, 2842-2846.

Schicatano, E.J., & Blumenthal, T.D.: The Effects of a Low and High Dose of Caffeine on Habituation of the Acoustic Startle Reflex. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, (1995), 52, 231-236.

Schicatano, E.J. & Blumenthal, T.D.:  Caffeine Delays Habituation of Acoustic Reflex in Humans. Psychobiology, (1994), 22, 117-122.

Evinger, C., Mao, J.B., Powers, A.S., Kassem, I.S., Schicatano, E.J., Henriquez, V.M., & Peshori, K.R.  Dry Eye, Blinking and Blepharospasm.  (2001).  Movement Disorders.

Peshori, K.R., Schicatano, E.J., Gopalaswamy, R., & Evinger, C.: Aging of the Blink System. Experimental Brain Research (2000), 136, 351-363.

Powers, A.S., Schicatano, E.J., Basso, M.A., & Evinger, C.: To Blink or not to Blink: Inhibition and Facilitation of Reflex Blinks. Experimental Brain Research, (1997), 113, 283-290.

Blumenthal, T.D., Schicatano, E.J., Chapman, J.G., Norris, C.M., & Ergenzinger, E.R.: Prepulse Effects on Magnitude Estimation of Startle-Eliciting Stimuli and Startle Responses.  Perception & Psychophysics, (1996), 58, 73-80.

Schicatano, E.J., Bohlander, R.  (2016). The Establishment of an On- Campus  Neurotraining Center at a Small University: Internship Experience Using Neuropsychological Techniques.  Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education, 15 A61-A66  

Schicatano, E.J.  (2016). The Effects of Attention on the Trigeminal Blink Reflex.  Perceptual and Motor Skills, 122, 444-451.

Schicatano, E.J.  (2014) Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking; CreateSpace. Independent Publishing.

Neurocognitive Model of Pain Modulation 

Since 2009, I have developed a model for investigating the numerous factors that modulate pain in humans.  This model views pain perception as consisting of several distinct levels that reflect delineated neurobiological mechanisms.  When considering pain perception, both extrinsic and intrinsic factors contribute to and modulate the pain experience. Currently, I am focusing on the effects of emotions on pain perception.

Habituation as a Window into Information Processing in the Brain

A second line of research involves examining the process of habituation as a measure of information processing.  Cognitive habituation is the decrease in response to an attended stimulus. This process demonstrates the importance of the brains automatic filtering mechanisms for maintaining normal attention.

 

Carpenter Award for teaching excellence: 2006

Outstanding Faculty Award: 2002-2003

NIH postdoctoral fellowship award: 1996-1999