Katharine Northcutt, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology

Director of Neuroscience

EducationDr. Katharine Northcutt

  • Ph.D., Neuroscience, Michigan State University
  • B.S., Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, Emory University

Specialty

Neurobiology

Research Interest

Katharine Northcutt, Ph.D., researches neurobiology and neuroendocrinology of social behavior. She is particularly interested in neurochemical systems that influence the social interactions of juveniles (particularly play behavior in rats), and the ways that these systems change throughout adolescence, resulting in a decrease in affiliative behavior in adults. In addition, there are marked sex differences in the degree to which play occurs in some rat strains, and Northcutt is also exploring the neural underpinnings of these sex differences. Finally, she is interested in how hormones — including estrogens, androgens and thyroid hormones — affect the development of typical social behavior.

Recent Publications

  • Northcutt, KV (2026). “Fostering belonging through introducing diverse scientists in undergraduate neuroscience lectures.” Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education, 24(2): 61-70.
  • Monteiro, SA, Thorpe, JW, and Northcutt, KV (2026). “Immediate effects of postpartum hypothyroidism and long-term effects of neonatal hypothyroidism on maternal behavior in rats.” Developmental Psychobiology, 68(1): e70117.
  • Morrissey, S and Northcutt, KV (2023). “Using multiple strategies to address neuromyths in preservice teachers.” Psychological Applications and Trends 2023: 532–536.
  • Northcutt, KV, Leal-Medina, TS, Yoon, YS (2021). “Early postnatal hypothyroidism reduces juvenile play behavior, but prenatal hypothyroidism compensates for these effects.” Physiology & Behavior, 241: 113594.
  • Northcutt, KV (2021). “Cooperative group learning in undergraduate neuroscience: using simulations to complement problem-solving assignments.” The Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education, 19(2): A201-209.
  • de Silva, C, Pullen, J, Northcutt, K, and Jenkins J (2019). “An authentic research project in animal behavior as an introductory physics laboratory exercise,” The Physics Teacher, 57: 618.
  • Northcutt, KV and Nwankwo, V (2018). “Sex differences in juvenile rat play differ among rat strains,” Developmental Psychobiology, 60: 903–912.
  • Smith, SG and Northcutt, KV (2018). “Perinatal hypothyroidism increases play behaviors in juvenile rats.” Hormones and Behavior 98: 1-7.
  • Northcutt, KV (2016). “Student-designed service-learning projects in an undergraduate neurobiology course.” Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education, 17: 90-92.
  • Northcutt, KV and Nguyen, JK (2014). “Juvenile play behavior elicits Fos expression in dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area in female rats.” Behavioral Neuroscience 128: 178-186.

Contact Katharine Northcutt, Ph.D.

(478) 301-2348
northcutt_kv@mercer.edu
Office: Godsey Science Center, Room 326