Dr. Ruth Feldman is a world-renowned leader in developmental social neuroscience whose pioneering work has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of human attachment and social bonding across the lifespan. She currently serves as the Simms-Mann Professor of Developmental Social Neuroscience and Director of the Center for Developmental, Social, and Relationship Neuroscience at Reichman University in Israel, where she also directs the Irving B. Harris public clinic for young children and their families. Additionally, she holds an adjunct professorship at Yale University Child Study Center, reflecting her international stature and interdisciplinary approach. With academic credentials spanning music composition, neuroscience, clinical psychology, and developmental psychology, her unique background enables her to bridge scientific rigor with profound insights into the human condition through an interpersonal frame and behavior-based methodology.
Dr. Feldman's groundbreaking research has established the biological foundations of human social connection through her conceptual model of biobehavioral synchrony, which describes how lived experience within close relationships builds the brain, creates resilience, and promotes creativity. Her seminal studies were the first to detail the role of oxytocin in the formation of human social bonds, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of the neurobiology of attachment from infancy through adulthood. Through multiple birth-to-adulthood longitudinal studies, she has meticulously mapped the long-term effects of premature birth, maternal depression, and chronic trauma on brain development while demonstrating the enduring benefits of early touch-based interventions. Her research on inter-brain synchrony has revealed how neural coordination during social interactions creates the foundation for healthy development, with implications spanning neonatal care to conflict resolution in intractable social divides.
Beyond her research contributions, Dr. Feldman has developed observational tools for analyzing social interactions that are now utilized in 33 countries and translated into multiple languages, significantly advancing methodological approaches across international research communities. Her dialogue-enhancing intervention for Israeli and Palestinian youth represents the first program to demonstrate long-term effects on brain and behavior in contexts of intractable inter-group conflict, showcasing the real-world application of her neuroscience findings. As a highly cited researcher recognized globally as a World Expert in parenting research and recipient of Israel's highest scientific honor, she continues to shape the field through mentoring and leadership, influencing both scientific understanding and clinical practice worldwide. Dr. Feldman's ongoing work explores the mechanisms of resilience and the potential for relationship-based interventions to strengthen social bonds across diverse populations, with profound implications for early childhood development, mental health policy, and our fundamental understanding of human connection.
