Lauren E. Ethridge
Associate Professor, Psychology and Pediatrics Dale Hall Tower 739 405-325-4497 ethri at ou dot edu https://babl.oucreate.com// Ph.D., Neuroscience, University of Georgia, 2011RESEARCH:
The Brain and Biomarker Laboratory, under the direction of Dr. Lauren Ethridge, is a multidisciplinary, translational neuroscience laboratory focusing on applications of basic science to clinical outcomes, particularly in neurodevelopmental disorders.
The BABL group centers on the use of dense-array EEG as a translational tool for learning more about brain function in neurodevelopmental disorders. The ultimate goal of our research is to establish non-invasive biological markers for changes in brain function that not only elucidate neural and molecular pathways affected by disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder but also serve as aids for early identification, early predictors for response to individualized treatment protocols, and reliable indicators of treatment effects.
Research in the lab is highly collaborative, with a large network of investigators across the country. Current research includes:
1. EEG as a translational, treatment sensitive, biomarker in rare genetic disorders associated with autism, including Fragile X Syndrome and Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
2. Neural correlates of face processing in toddlers at risk for autism
3. Characteristics of EEG activity related to variation in ASD symptoms across the full spectrum, including subclinical characteristics in the typically developing population
4. Dense phenotyping of biologically based subtypes (“biotypes”) across the schizo-bipolar spectrum of psychosis
Selected Publications:
Miyakoshi, M., Kim, H., De Stefano, L., Schmitt, L., Norris, J., Ethridge, L., Erickson, C., Pedapati, E. (2025) Hyper-extralemniscal model of Fragile X Syndrome. Cerebral Cortex, in press.
Pedapati, E.V., Ethridge, L.E, De Stefano, L., Liu, Y., Miyakoshi, M., Sweeney, J.A., Schmitt, L.M., Gilbert, D.L., Wu, S.W., Liu, R., Smith, E., Shaffer, R.C., Dominick, K.C., Horn, P.S., Binder, D., and Erikson, C.A. (2025) Frontal Cortex Hyperactivation and Gamma Desynchrony in Fragile X Syndrome: Correlates of Auditory Hypersensitivity. PLoS ONE, in press.
Bain, C.M., Shi, D., Banad, Y.M., Ethridge, L.E., Norris, J., and Loeffelman, J.E. (2025) A tutorial on supervised machine learning variables selection methods for the psychological sciences in R. Journal of Behavioral Data Science 5(1), 1-45.
McKinney, W. S., Schmitt, L. M., De Stefano, L. A., Ethridge, L., Norris, J. E., Horn, P. S., Dauterman, S., Rosselot, H., Pedapati, E. V., Reisinger, D. L., Dominick, K. C., Shaffer, R. C., Chin, D., Friedman, N. R., Hong, M., Sweeney, J. A., and Erickson, C. (2024) Results from a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-dose, crossover trial of lovastatin or minocycline in fragile X syndrome. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology 35(4): 211-221.
Norris, J.E., Berry-Kravis, E.M., Harnett, M.D., Reines, S.A., Reese, M.A., Outterson, A.H., Michalak, C., Furmen, J., Gurney, M.E., and Ethridge, L.E.(2024) Auditory N1 event-related potential amplitude is predictive of serum concentration of BPN14770 in fragile x syndrome. Molecular Autism 15(1): 47.
Ethridge, L.E., Pedapati, E.V. Schmitt, L.M., Norris, J.E., Auger, E., De Stefano, L.A., Sweeney, J.A., and Erickson, C.A. (2024) Validating brain activity measures as reliable indicators of individual diagnostic group and genetically mediated sub-group membership in Fragile X Syndrome. Scientific Reports 14: 22982.
Berry-Kravis, E., Abbeduto, L., Hagerman, R., Coffey, C.S., Cudkowicz, M., Erickson, C., McDuffie, A., Hessl, D., Ethridge, L., Tassone, F., Kaufmann, W.E., Friedmann, K., Bullard, L., Hoffmann, A., Veenstra-VanderWeele, J., Staley, K., Klements, D., Moshinsky, M., Harkey, B., Long, J., Fedler, J., Klingner, E., Ecklund, D., Costigan, M., Huff, T., Pearson, B., and the NeuroNEXT FXLEARN Investigators (2023) Effects of AFQ056 on Language Learning in Fragile X Syndrome: The FXLEARN Trial. Journal of Clinical Investigation 134: 5.
Ethridge, L. E., Auerbach, B. D., Contractor, A., Ethell, I. M., McCullagh, E. A., and Pedapati, E. V. (2023) Editorial: Neural markers of sensory processing in development. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience 17: 1256437.
Norris, J. E., Schmitt, L. M., De Stefano, L. A., Pedapati, E. V., Erickson, C. A., Sweeney, J. A., and Ethridge, L. E. (2023) Neuropsychiatric feature-based subgrouping reveals neural sensory processing spectrum in female FMR1 premutation carriers: A pilot study. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience 17:2.
Berry-Kravis, E. M., Harnett, M. D., Reines, S. A., Reese, M. A., Ethridge, L. E. Outterson, A. H., Michalak, C., Furman, J., and Gurney, M. (2021) Inhibition of phosphodiesterase-4D in adults with fragile X syndrome: a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 2 clinical trial. Nature Medicine 27: 862-870.