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Biography

Ruth E. Propper, Ph.D. is a Research Psychologist and Full Professor, with specialization in Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Toledo and completed her postdoctoral research at Mass Mental Health Center, Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston.   She is Director of the Cerebral Lateralization Laboratory, where she collaborates with MSU undergraduate and graduate student research assistants on a range of topics which mostly center on the role of hemispheric lateralization in cognitive and behavioral processes.  She has published more than 45 peer-reviewed research articles, received ~$500,000 in grants from the DoD, published review articles, encyclopedia entries, and book chapters, and has presented at more than 70 research conferences. She has also also published two children's chapter books that teach the scientific method within the context of a mystery story for children, and a picture book supporting women and girls in science. She is Director of the MSU-Kessler Internship program that places exceptional MSU students in real, working neuroscience laboratories in order to support their educational and occupational goals. 

Research

The Cerebral Lateralizaton Laboratory conducts research across a range of topics, which typically center around hemispheric differences in cortical organization.  A major emphasis of the work examines how hemispheric interaction relates to cognition, emotion, immune function, and health, using pre-collected data sets, physiological measures, behavioral interventions, and handedness to test hypotheses regarding hemispheric activity.  Research also examines sleep and the impact of sleep on cognitive performance and well-being.

Publications

Representative publications: 

Propper, R. E., Narine, A., Aman, S., & Christman, S. D. (2026). Princess hands: Handedness of protagonists versus antagonists in Disney’s “Princess” animated movies. Laterality, 31, (4), 1–10.

Propper, R.E., Teasley, M.D., Lynch, E. (2025). Half-Decided: Bilateral or Unilateral Stimulation and Susceptibility to Persuasion. In T. McElroy (Ed.), Decision-Making in Life and Work Foundations, Strategies, and Current Neuroscience. (pp. 99–122). New York, NY: Springer.

Schierenbeck, S., & Propper, R. E. (2023). Integrative research review of the impacts of unilateral hand clenching on behavior: Clinical implications. In C. Pracana & M. Wang (Eds.), Psychological Applications and Developments VIII. InScience Press.

Villafana, M., & Propper, R. E. (2024). Association between non-right-handedness and multiple sclerosis. Journal of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, 5(1), 1-7.
http://dx.doi.org/10.46889/JCIM.2024.
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Lall, S., Brunye, T. T., Barua, M., & Propper, R. E. (2020). Brief, prior, exposure to red decreases categorical and coordinate spatial task performance. Brain and Cognition, 142.

Propper, R. E., Bagagem, A., Aman, S., & Narine, A. (Accepted, November) Handedness, Arm Bone Mass, and the Immune System: Evidence for an Impact of Lateralization on Immune System Function. Accepted to the Annual Meeting of the New England Psychological Association, Salem, MA.

Propper, R., E. & Vypryazhkin, M*. (February, 2025). Sleep Control, Quality, and Gender Predict Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale Score. Presented to the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, NY. 

POPULAR PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Propper, E. E. (2023). What Kind of Scientist Can a Girl Be?

Propper, R.E. (2020) Lizzie Loftus and the Missing Peanut Butter Cookies: A Science Method Mystery.

Propper, R.E. (2020) Lizzie Loftus and the Messy Mums: A Science Method Mystery.