Amna Besirevic

Graduate Student

Advisor

Research Area

Neuroscience and Behavior

Biography

I’m an international student from Germany with roots in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I received my bachelor’s degree in Psychological Sciences with Honors from the University of Connecticut in 2026. At UConn, I conducted research with Dr. John Salamone, whose work focuses on the neural and neurochemical mechanisms underlying motivation and effort-based decision-making, with a particular focus on dopamine and its implications for neuropsychiatric disorders. At UCSB, I now work with Dr. Ron Keiflin, where I continue to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying motivated behavior, with a focus on learning and decision-making. In my free time, I enjoy playing volleyball and doing digital art.

Research

My research interests revolve around understanding how the brain learns from different experiences and uses this information to guide behavior. Specifically, I’m interested in the involvement of the prefrontal cortex and its related pathways. I am also interested in investigating the effects of various pharmacological agents on these neural processes and ultimately on behavior.

Research keyword: rodent behavior, motivation, decision-making, fiberphotometry