Hoeft is a neurophysiologist, as well as a systems and developmental cognitive neuroscientist with theoretical interests in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying individual differences in brain maturational processes, acquisition of skills such as literacy and how they interact. She is also interested in identifying how biology (gene) and environment influence neurodevelopment. In her research, her lab employs a variety of neuroimaging techniques (e.g. fMRI, T1 aMRI, DWI, MRS, NIRS, EEG/MEG, TMS/tDCS), analytical approaches (e.g. machine learning, graph theory), designs (e.g. intergenerational neuroimaging, imaging genetics, human natural cross-fostering design), and perturbation techniques (e.g. neuromodulation using TMS/tDCS, perturbation of English literacy acquisition through foreign language/literacy learning, and atypical populations such as dyslexia). She is also engaged in translational programs focused on the science of resilience, compensation and socio-emotional competency, as well as developing and validating edtech tools such as: (1) APPRISE that assesses school readiness and dyslexia risk; and (2) Socio-Emotional Toolkit that assesses socio-emotional competencies in those with learning challenges. Hoeft received pre/postdoctoral research training at Harvard, UCLA, Caltech and Stanford.

Recent honors include awards from organizations such as the International Dyslexia Association (IDA; 2014), Learning & the Brain Foundation (2015), University of California Office of the President (2016), Int’l Mind Brain & Education Society (IMBES; 2018), Society for Neuroscience (SfN; 2018), and Eye to Eye (2019). She has published over 130 articles, reviews, and book chapters, and has delivered over 160 keynotes, talks and workshops at venues such as local schools, International conferences, TEDx and the White House. Her work has been widely covered in media such as The New York Times, NPR, CNN, the New Yorker, and Scientific American. She also serves on many boards at organizations such as the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) and National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), and Bay Area Discovery Museum’s (BADM) Center for Childhood Creativity (CCC).

[link to full CV] [link to NIH BioSketch]

Haft SL, Caballero JN, Tanaka T, Zekelman L, Cutting LE, Uchikoshi Y, Hoeft F. Direct and indirect contributions of executive function and word decoding to reading comprehension in kindergarten. Learn Ind Diff (in press)

Marks RA, Kovelman I, Kepinska O, Oliver M, Xia Z, Haft SL, Zekelman L, Duong P, Uchikoshi Y, Hancock R, Hoeft F. Spoken language proficiency predicts print-speech convergence in beginning readers Neuroimage 2019 Nov 1;201:116021. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116021. Epub 2019 Jul 13. PMID: 31310862 PMCID: PMC6765418

Haft SL, Kepinska O, Caballero JN, Hoeft F. Attentional fluctuations, cognitive flexibility, and bilingualism in kindergarteners. Behav Sci (Basel) 2019 May 24;9(5):pii:E58. doi: 10.3390/bs9050058. PMID: 31137651 PMCID: PMC6562579

Haft SL, Chen T, Leblanc C, Tencza F, Hoeft F. Impact of mentoring on socio-emotional and mental health outcomes of youth with learning disabilities and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2019 Apr 21; NIHMSID: NIHMS1020130. doi: 10.1111/camh.12331

Haft SL, Duong PH, Ho TC, Hendren RL, Hoeft F. Anxiety and attentional bias in children with specific learning disorders. J Abnorm Child Psychol 2019 Mar;47(3):487-497. doi: 10.1007/s10802-018-0458-y. PMID: 30043123 PMCID: PMC6639079

Kearns D, Hancock R, Hoeft F, Pugh KR, Frost S. The neurobiology of dyslexia. Teaching Exceptional Children 2019 Jan 11; 51(3):175-188.

Del Tufo SN, Frost SJ, Hoeft F, Cutting LE, Molfese PJ, Mason GF, Rothman DL, Fulbright RK, Pugh KR. Neurochemistry predicts convergence of written and spoken language: A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of cross-modal language integration. Front Psychol 2018 Sep 04;9:1507. PMID: 30233445 PMCID: PMC6131664

Haft SL, Duong PH, Ho TC, Hendren RL, Hoeft F. Anxiety and attentional bias in children with specific learning disorders. J Abnorm Child Psychol 2019 Mar;47(3):487-497. doi: 10.1007/s10802-018-0458-y. PMID: 30043123 PMCID: in progress

Patael S, Farris EA, Black JM, Hancock R, Gabrieli JDE, Cutting L, Hoeft F. Brain basis of cognitive resilience: Prefrontal cortex predicts better reading comprehension in relation to decoding. PLoS ONE 2018 Jun 14;13(6):e0198791. PMID: 29902208. PMCID: PMC6002103

Malins JG, Pugh KR, Buis B, Frost SJ, Hoeft F, Landi N, Mencl WE, Kurian A, Staples R, Molfese PJ, Sevcik R, Morris R. Individual differences in reading skill are related to trial-by-trial neural activation variability in the reading network. J Neurosci 2018;38(12):2981-2989. PMID: 29440534. PMCID: PMC5864150 [Available on 2018-09-21] Evaluated: F1000 Neuroscience

Hancock R, Pugh KR, Hoeft F. The neural noise hypothesis of developmental dyslexia. Trends Cogn Sci (TiCS) 2017;21(6):434-448. PMID: 28400089; PMCID: PMC548955

Hancock R, Pugh KR, Hoeft F. Neural Noise Hypothesis of Developmental Dyslexia: (Trends in Cognitive Sciences 21, 434-448, 2017). Trends Cogn Sci (TiCS) 2017;21(11):909. PMID: 28869186. PMCID: PMC5724971

Hancock R, Richlan F, Hoeft F. Possible roles for frontostriatal circuits in reading disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017;72:243-260. PMID: 27826071; PMCID: PMC5189679

Ho TC, Sanders SJ, Gotlib IH, Hoeft F. Intergenerational Neuroimaging of Human Brain Circuitry. Trends Neuroscience (TiNS). 2016;39(10):644-648. PMID: 27623194; PMCID: PMC5067069

Hancock R, Gabrieli JDE, Hoeft F. Shared temporoparietal dysfunction in dyslexia and typical readers with discrepantly high IQ. Trends Neurosci Educ 2016;5(4):173-177. PMID: 28439565; PMCID: PMC5400289

Haft SL, Myers CA, Hoeft F. Socio-emotional and cognitive resilience in children with reading disabilities. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2016;10:133-141. PMID:27747263; PMCID: PMC5058360

Vandermosten M, Hoeft F, Norton ES. Integrating MRI brain imaging studies of pre-reading children with current theories of developmental dyslexia: A review and quantitative meta-analysis. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2016;10:155-161. PMID: 27458603; PMCID: PMC4957935

Yamagata B, Black JM, Gimenez P, Mimura M, Yang TT, Reiss AL, Hoeft F. Sex-specific intergenerational transmission patterns in the human corticolimbic system. J Neurosci 2016;36(4):1254-60. PMID: 26818513; PMCID: PMC4728726. Press release: UCSF; Covered by: Scientific American

Rueckl JG, Paz-Alonso PM, Molfese PJ, Kuod W-J, Bick A, Frost SJ, Hancock R, Wu DH, Mencl WE, Duñabeitia JA, Lee J-R, Oliver M, Zevin JD, Hoeft F, Carreiras M, Tzeng OJ-L, Pugh KR, Frost R. A universal brain signature of proficient reading: Evidence from four contrasting languages. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (PNAS) 2015 Dec 15;112(50):15510-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1509321112. Epub 2015 Nov 30. PMID: 26621710; PMCID: PMC4687557

Myers CA, Vandermosten M, Farris EA, Hancock R, Gimenez P, Black JM, Casto B, Drahos M, Tumber M, Hendren RL, Hulme C, Hoeft F. White matter morphometric changes uniquely predict children’s reading acquisition. Psychol Sci 2014 Oct;25(10):1870-83. doi: 10.1177/0956797614544511. Epub 2014 Sep 11. PMID: 25212581; PMCID: PMC4326021 Press release: UCSF; Podcast: UCSF, NIH

Pugh KR, Frost SJ, Rothman DL, Hoeft F, Del Tufo SN, Mason GF, Molfese PJ, Mencl WE, Grigorenko EL, Landi N, Preston JL, Jacobsen L, Seidenberg MS, Fulbright RK. Glutamate and choline levels predict individual differences in reading ability in emergent readers. J Neurosci 2014 Mar 12;34(11):4082-9. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3907-13.2014. PMID: 24623786; PMCID: PMC3951703 Press release: Yale, NICHD

Hong DS, Hoeft F, Marzelli MJ, Lepage JF, Roeltgen D, Ross J, Reiss AL. Influence of the X-chromosome on neuroanatomy: evidence from Turner and Klinefelter syndromes. J Neurosci 2014 Mar 5;34(10):3509-16. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2790-13.2014. PMID: 24599451; PMCID: PMC3942570

Kesler SR, Wefel JS, Hosseini SM, Cheung M, Watson CL, Hoeft F. Default mode network connectivity distinguishes chemotherapy-treated breast cancer survivors from controls. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (PNAS) 2013 Jul 9;110(28):11600-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1214551110. Epub 2013 Jun 24. PMID: 23798392; PMCID: PMC3710809

Hoeft F, Gabrieli JD, Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Haas BW, Bammer R, Menon V, Spiegel D. Functional brain basis of hypnotizability. JAMA Psychiatry 2012 Oct;69(10):1064-72. doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.2190. Erratum in: JAMA Psychiatry 2013 Jan;70(1):97. PMID: 23026956; PMCID: PMC4365296. Press release: NICHD, Stanford; Author ITV in: Arch Gen Psychiatry

Hosseini SM, Hoeft F, Kesler SR. GAT: a graph-theoretical analysis toolbox for analyzing between-group differences in large-scale structural and functional brain networks. PLoS One 2012;7(7):e40709. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040709. Epub 2012 Jul 13. PMID: 22808240; PMCID: PMC3396592

**Tanaka H, **Black JM, Hulme C, Stanley LM, Kesler SR, Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Reiss AL, Gabrieli JD, Hoeft F. The brain basis of the phonological deficit in dyslexia is independent of IQ. Psychol Sci 2011 Nov;22(11):1442-51. doi: 10.1177/0956797611419521. Epub 2011 Oct 17. PMID: 22006060. PMCID: PMC4380286 Press release: NICHD, Psychol Sci, Stanford & MIT **Shared 1^st

Bryant DM, Hoeft F, Lai S, Lackey J, Roeltgen D, Ross J, Reiss AL. Neuroanatomical phenotype of Klinefelter syndrome in childhood: a voxel-based morphometry study. J Neurosci 2011 May 4;31(18):6654-60. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5899-10.2011. PMID: 21543594; PMCID: PMC3148194

Hoeft F, McCandliss BD, Black JM, Gantman A, Zakerani N, Hulme C, Lyytinen H, Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Glover GH, Reiss AL, Gabrieli JD. Neural systems predicting long-term outcome in dyslexia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (PNAS) 2011 Jan 4;108(1):361-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1008950108. Epub 2010 Dec 20. PMID: 21173250; PMCID: PMC3017159 Press release: NICHD, Stanford, MIT, & Vanderbilt; Covered by: Science

Hoeft F, Walter E, Lightbody AA, Hazlett HC, Chang C, Piven J, Reiss AL. Neuroanatomical differences in toddler boys with fragile x syndrome and idiopathic autism. JAMA Psychiatry 2011 Mar;68(3):295-305. doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.153. Epub 2010 Nov 1. PMID: 21041609. PMCID: PMC4369209 Comment in: Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011 Mar;68(3):230-1

Hoeft F, Carter JC, Lightbody AA, Cody Hazlett H, Piven J, Reiss AL. Region-specific alterations in brain development in one- to three-year-old boys with fragile X syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (PNAS) 2010 May 18;107(20):9335-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1002762107. Epub 2010 May 3. PMID: 20439717; PMCID: PMC2889103. Press release: NIMH & Stanford

Etkin A, Prater KE, Hoeft F, Menon V, Schatzberg AF. Failure of anterior cingulate activation and connectivity with the amygdala during implicit regulation of emotional processing in generalized anxiety disorder. Am J Psychiatry 2010 May;167(5):545-54. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09070931. Epub 2010 Feb 1. PMID: 20123913. PMCID: PMC4367202 Comment in: Am J Psychiatry. 2010 May;167(5):489-92

Bray S, Chang C, Hoeft F. Applications of multivariate pattern classification analyses in developmental neuroimaging of healthy and clinical populations. Front Hum Neurosci 2009 Oct 23;3:32. doi: 10.3389/neuro.09.032.2009. eCollection 2009. PMID: 19893761; PMCID: PMC2773173

Haas BW, Mills D, Yam A, Hoeft F, Bellugi U, Reiss A. Genetic influences on sociability: heightened amygdala reactivity and event-related responses to positive social stimuli in Williams syndrome. J Neurosci 2009 Jan 28;29(4):1132-9. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5324-08.2009. PMID: 19176822; PMCID: PMC2754840.

Hoeft F, Lightbody AA, Hazlett HC, Patnaik S, Piven J, Reiss AL. Morphometric spatial patterns differentiating boys with fragile X syndrome, typically developing boys, and developmentally delayed boys aged 1 to 3 years. JAMA Psychiatry 2008 Sep;65(9):1087-97. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.65.9.1087. PMID: 18762595; PMCID: PMC2864400 Press release: Stanford

Watson C, Hoeft F, Garrett AS, Hall SS, Reiss AL. Aberrant brain activation during gaze processing in boys with fragile X syndrome. JAMA Psychiatry 2008 Nov;65(11):1315-23. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.65.11.1315. PMID: 18981343.

Hoeft F, Wu DA, Hernandez A, Glover GH, Shimojo S. Electronically switchable sham transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) system. PLoS One 2008 Apr 9;3(4):e1923. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001923. PMID: 18398456; PMCID: PMC2271126

Hoeft F, Barnea-Goraly N, Haas BW, Golarai G, Ng D, Mills D, Korenberg J, Bellugi U, Galaburda A, Reiss AL. More is not always better: increased fractional anisotropy of superior longitudinal fasciculus associated with poor visuospatial abilities in Williams syndrome. J Neurosci 2007 Oct 31;27(44):11960-5. PMID: 17978036

Hoeft F, Meyler A, Hernandez A, Juel C, Taylor-Hill H, Martindale JL, McMillon G, Kolchugina G, Black JM, Faizi A, Deutsch GK, Siok WT, Reiss AL, Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Gabrieli JD. Functional and morphometric brain dissociation between dyslexia and reading ability. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (PNAS) 2007 Mar 6;104(10):4234-9. Epub 2007 Feb 23. PMID: 17360506; PMCID: PMC1820738

Hoeft F, Hernandez A, McMillon G, Taylor-Hill H, Martindale JL, Meyler A, Keller TA, Siok WT, Deutsch GK, Just MA, Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Gabrieli JD. Neural basis of dyslexia: a comparison between dyslexic and nondyslexic children equated for reading ability. J Neurosci 2006 Oct 18;26(42):10700-8. PMID: 17050709 Evaluated: F1000 Biology

deCharms RC, Maeda(Hoeft) F, Glover GH, Ludlow D, Pauly JM, Soneji, D.J., Gabrieli, J.D.E., and Mackey, S.C. Control over brain activation and pain learned by using real-time functional MRI. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (PNAS) 2005; 102(51): 18626-18631. Evaluated: F1000 Biology. Coverage: Nature, Nat Rev Neurosci

Maeda(Hoeft) F, Kanai R, Shimojo S. Changing pitch induced visual motion illusion. Curr Biol 2004; 14(23):R990-R991.

Maeda(Hoeft) F, Gangitano M, Thall M, Pascual-Leone A. Inter- and intra-individual variability of paired-pulse curves with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Clin Neurophysiol 2002;113:376-382

Maeda(Hoeft) F, Keenan J, Tormos JM, Topka H, Pascual-Leone A. Interindividual variability of the modulatory effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on cortico-spinal excitability. Exp Brain Res 2000; 133:425-30

Maeda(Hoeft) F, Keenan J, Tormos JM, Topka H, Pascual-Leone A. Modulation of cortico-spinal excitability by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. Clin Neurophysiol 2000;111: 800-805

NSF BCS- 2029373 (PI Hoeft) 04/15/2020 – 05/14/2021

Assessing and preventing the detrimental impact of literacy acquisition during COVID-19-related school closure

$200,000 Total Cost

Goal: To examine the extent of the detrimental impact of school closure on children’s reading at the critical early stages of learning, and the degree to which a digital game-based reading instruction can rescue the expected closure-related slump.

Role: PI

NIH R01HD094834 (Multi-PIs Hoeft & Hancock) 03/01/2019 – 02/29/2024

Intergenerational neuroimaging of language and reading networks using a natural cross-fostering design

$3,397,385 Total Cost

Goal: To dissociate the genetic, prenatal and postnatal experience on sex-specific transmission patterns of language and reading endophenotypes.

Role: PI

NIH R01HD096261 (PI Hoeft) 09/15/2018 – 06/30/2023

Neural mechanisms underlying compensation in dyslexia.

$3,467,648 Total Cost

Goal: To understand individual differences in the neurocircuity underlying reading using a combination of measures of experimental neuromodulation, neurochemistry and neural activity/connectivity.

Role: PI

NIH R01HD086168 (Multi-PIs Haskins Pugh/Hoeft) 08/01/2016 – 06/30/2021

$3,162,696 Total Cost

Neurochemistry as a moderator of brain networks for reading

Goal: To examine individual differences neurochemistry in different nodes of the reading network, and how it impacts neural oscillation, functional activation, and functional connectivity as well as individual differences in reading skills.

Role: PI

NIH R01HD078351 (PI Hoeft) 09/01/2015 – 06/30/2021

$2,971,534 Total Cost

Understanding literacy acquisition through immersion in foreign languages

Goal: To utilize exposure to contrastive second languages and individual differences in early childhood linguistic experiences  to examine the neurobiological circuitry of reading.

Role: PI

Oak Fndtn OCAY-19-215 (PI Hoeft) 09/01/2019 – 08/31/2022

$769,578 Total Cost

Supporting optimal outcomes for students with learning differences

Goal: To identify pathways that lead to optimal outcomes in the socio-emotional and cognitive domains by examining stereotype threat and compensation in students with LDs.

Role: PI

Oak Fndtn ORIO-16-012 (PI Hoeft)  09/01/2016 – 08/31/2021

$350,000 Total Cost

Assessing the impact of mentoring on students with learning differences

Goal: To examine individual differences in factors of LD middle-school children as well as programmatic factors that make one responsive to mentoring.

Role: PI

UCOP MRP-17-454926 (PI Hoeft) 01/01/2017 – 12/31/2020

UC Office of the President Multicampus Research Program & Initiatives Award

$577,751 Total Cost

Science-Based Innovation in Learning Center (SIL Center; now, Precision Learning Center)

Goal: The long-term goal is for the proposed Univ of CA center integrating efforts from 6 UC campuses is to be a national leader in Precision Ed-Health, and tackle issues associated with education and health disparity in underrepresented populations, with an initial emphasis on early identification and intervention of children at risk for learning challenges.

Role: PI

UCSF Dyslexia Center, Charles & Helen Schwab Foundation (PI Hoeft) 07/01/2016 – 12/31/2019

$729,000 Total Cost

Development and validation of a dyslexia-risk assessment app (AppRISE)

Goal: To develop a tablet-based app that can be used to phenotype and predict dyslexia.

Role: PI

Anonymous Fndtn 2018-188563 (PI Uncapher) 09/01/2018 – 02/28/2021

$2,900,000 Total Cost

Development and validation of precision learning executive function (PLEF) tool

Goal: To develop, integrate, and validate cognitive assessment tools.

Role: Co-PI

NIH T32DC017703 (Multi-PIs Eigsti/Myers) 07/01/2019 – 06/30/2024

$1,824,256 Total Cost

Training in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Communication

Goal: To provide graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with combined training in the analysis of the neural basis of communication disorders and the application of basic research findings to the clinic.

Role: Co-I/Preceptor

AIM IGNITE Center (Co-Directors Pugh/Hoeft) 04/02/2018 – 04/01/2020

IGNITE Center

The Collaboration is to create an initiative under the proposed name “IGNITE Center”, which will include a Summer Internship Program for students and teachers, develop an in-school neuroscience program with AIM as the “Lab School”, and expand the scope of AIM’s transitional research efforts via educator training.

Role: Co-Director of Haskins Global Hub

The Windward School (Co-Directors Pugh/Hoeft) 09/01/2018 – 08/31/2021

The Windward-Haskins Global Hub Collaborative Project

The Collaboration will translate the growing body of research in the science of reading and language into early identification of and best practices in treating language-based disabilities.

Role: Co-Director of Haskins Global Hub

NIH R01HD044073 (PI Vanderbilt/Cutting) 07/01/2015 – 06/30/2021

Cognitive and Neural Processes in Reading Comprehension

Goal: To explore the relationship between brain development, and its relationship to behavior and cognition related to reading comprehension.

Role: Co-I

NIH R37HD090153 (PI Haskins/Pugh) 07/01/2017 – 06/30/2022

Tracking neuro-cognitive changes during evidence-based reading instruction in typically and atypically developing children

Goal: To examine the neurocognitive bases of treatment response to a well-established evidence-based treatment program using MRI and functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Role: Consultant

NIH R01HD092498 (PI Michigan Kovelman) 07/02/2018 – 04/30/2023

Impact of heritage language on bilingual children’s path to English literacy

Goal: To explain the effects of bilingualism on children’s neural architecture for learning to read

Role: Consultant

NSF CAREER 1749696 (PI Rochester/Daley) 05/01/2018 – 04/30/2023

Motivation in Science among Students with Learning Disabilities: Broadening Participation and Persistence

Goal: To examine the motivational beliefs of middle and high school students with learning disabilities, and contribute to fostering an inclusive STEM educational system and workforce.

Role: Advisor

NWO Rubicon Grant P0529976 (PI UCSF/Kepinska) 10/01/2018 – 09/30/2020

134,386 Euros Total Cost

Bilingualism under linguistic scrutiny. Do different languages shape the brain differently?

Goal: To apply a novel framework which we term “linguistic complexity of the bi-/multilingual’s environment (LCBME)” to understand individual differences in language learning.

Role: Mentor

Others: NIH T32 (mentor to predoc McNeil & postdoc Clement-Lam), NSF NRT-UtB SLAC (mentor to predoc McNeil)

Under review: NIH R01 (MPI w Landi), NIH U24 (MPI w Park/Chafouleas), UConn BIRC Trailblazer Award (MPI: Yale Constable/Briggs-Gowan, CoI)