Morse Scholar Alumni 2019-2022
Current Position
Postdoctoral Scholar, Nordahl Lab
Neuroimaging of Development in Autism | UC Davis MIND Institute
Contact
About
Olivia Surgent, PhD is a postdoctoral fellow in the Autism Research Training Program at the MIND Institute. She earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Surgent’s research takes an interdisciplinary approach to examine the neurobiological mechanisms underlying behavior in children and young adults on the autism spectrum. Her ultimate goal is to broaden our understanding of the connections between the brain, the body, and the environment and develop more effective solutions to the challenges faced by individuals with developmental differences.
Education
| 20017 | BA | Neuroscience | Hamilton College |
| 2022 | PhD | Neuroscience | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| 2019–2022 | Morse Scholar | Major Professor: Brittany Travers, PhD | Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison |
In the News
Research Links
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-surgent-1849a8b0/ |
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Selected Publications
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Kabakov, S. A., Surgent, O. J., Skaletski, E. C., Sideris, J., Ausderau, K. K., & Travers, B. G. (2025). Application of Sensory Subtypes: Understanding Core Autism Features, Adaptive Behaviors, and Motor Skills in Autistic Children. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 10.1007/s10803-025-06995-6. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-06995-6
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Surgent, O., Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Dean, D. C., 3rd, Adluru, N., Kirk, G. R., Kecskemeti, S. R., Alexander, A. L., Li, J. J., & Travers, B. G. (2024). Microstructural neural correlates of maximal grip strength in autistic children: the role of the cortico-cerebellar network and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder features. Frontiers in integrative neuroscience, 18, 1359099. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2024.1359099
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Travers, B. G., Surgent, O., Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Dean, D. C., 3rd, Adluru, N., Kecskemeti, S. R., Kirk, G. R., Alexander, A. L., Zhu, J., Skaletski, E. C., Naik, S., & Duran, M. (2024). Role of autonomic, nociceptive, and limbic brainstem nuclei in core autism features. Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 17(2), 266–279. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3096
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Surgent, O., Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Dean, D. C., 3rd, Kirk, G. R., Adluru, N., Kecskemeti, S. R., Alexander, A. L., & Travers, B. G. (2023). How we get a grip: Microstructural neural correlates of manual grip strength in children. NeuroImage, 273, 120117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120117
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Cabaraux, P., Agrawal, S. K., Cai, H., Calabro, R. S., Casali, C., Damm, L., Doss, S., Habas, C., Horn, A., Ilg, W., Louis, E. D., Mitoma, H., Monaco, V., Petracca, M., Ranavolo, A., Rao, A. K., Ruggieri, S., Schirinzi, T., Serrao, M., Summa, S., … Manto, M. (2023). Consensus Paper: Ataxic Gait. Cerebellum (London, England), 22(3), 394–430. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-022-01373-9
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Cabaraux, P., Agrawal, S. K., Cai, H., Calabro, R. S., Casali, C., Damm, L., Doss, S., Habas, C., Horn, A., Ilg, W., Louis, E. D., Mitoma, H., Monaco, V., Petracca, M., Ranavolo, A., Rao, A. K., Ruggieri, S., Schirinzi, T., Serrao, M., Summa, S., … Manto, M. (2023). Correction to: Consensus Paper: Ataxic Gait. Cerebellum (London, England), 22(3), 431–432. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-022-01413-4
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DiPiero, M. A., Surgent, O. J., Travers, B. G., Alexander, A. L., Lainhart, J. E., & Dean Iii, D. C. (2023). Gray matter microstructure differences in autistic males: A gray matter based spatial statistics study. NeuroImage. Clinical, 37, 103306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103306
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Surgent, O., Riaz, A., Ausderau, K. K., Adluru, N., Kirk, G. R., Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Skaletski, E. C., Kecskemeti, S. R., Dean Iii, D. C., Weismer, S. E., Alexander, A. L., & Travers, B. G. (2022). Brainstem white matter microstructure is associated with hyporesponsiveness and overall sensory features in autistic children. Molecular autism, 13(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00524-3
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Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Surgent, O., Adluru, N., Kirk, G. R., Dean Iii, D. C., Kecskemeti, S. R., Alexander, A. L., & Travers, B. G. (2022). Improving Imaging of the Brainstem and Cerebellum in Autistic Children: Transformation-Based High-Resolution Diffusion MRI (TiDi-Fused) in the Human Brainstem. Frontiers in integrative neuroscience, 16, 804743. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2022.804743
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Surgent, O., Dean, D. C., Alexander, A. L., Dadalko, O. I., Guerrero-Gonzalez, J., Taylor, D., Skaletski, E., & Travers, B. G. (2021). Neurobiological and behavioural outcomes of biofeedback-based training in autism: a randomized controlled trial. Brain communications, 3(3), fcab112. https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcab112
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Surgent, O. J., Walczak, M., Zarzycki, O., Ausderau, K., & Travers, B. G. (2021). IQ and Sensory Symptom Severity Best Predict Motor Ability in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 51(1), 243–254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04536-x
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Ardalan A, Assadi AH, Surgent OJ, Travers BG. (2019). Whole-Body Movement during Videogame Play Distinguishes Youth with Autism from Youth with Typical Development. Science Reports, 27;9(1):20094. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-56362-6.
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Surgent, O. J., Dadalko, O. I., Pickett, K. A., & Travers, B. G. (2019). Balance and the brain: A review of structural brain correlates of postural balance and balance training in humans. Gait & posture, 71, 245–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019.05.011