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FS-Putnam-spotlightDr. Susan Putnam’s research primarily investigates physiological measures of stress, competition and individual personality traits, as well as biological and hormonal measures in children with autism spectrum disorders. Her work involves assessing salivary cortisol, salivary alpha amylase and testosterone levels through enzyme immunoassay. This technique provides her and her research team with a myriad of opportunities to explore the relationship of varying physical and psychological circumstances with physiological markers of stress, such as cortisol. One of her recent studies showed children with low functioning autism spectrum disorder had significantly higher mean cortisol levels than both children with high functioning autism spectrum disorder and typically developing children.

She also assesses other physiological measures such as heart rate, blood pressure, galvanic skin response (also a measure of stress) and brain wave activity in study participants using the commercially available BioPac system.

As a professor of psychology, Dr. Putnam is also pleased to have her research demonstrate to her students the value of studying different disciplines – neuropsychology, behavior, statistics and physiology.

 Submitted by: Sara Morris, associate vice president, academic affairs