Roy Hoshi Hamilton, MD, MS, FAAN, FANA
Professor of Neurology
Director, Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation, University of Pennsylvania
Director, Brain Stimulation, Translation, Innovation, and Modulation (brainSTIM) Center, University of Pennsylvania
Faculty, Brain Science Center, University of Pennsylvania
Advisory Board Member, Clinical Neurosciences Training Program (CNST), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Special Advisor to the Dean, Perelman School of Medicine
Chair, Faculty Senate, University of Pennsylvania
Department: Neurology
Contact information
Goddard Laboratories, Room 518
University of Pennsylvania
3710 Hamilton Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104
University of Pennsylvania
3710 Hamilton Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 215-573-7065
Fax: 215-898-1982
Fax: 215-898-1982
Graduate Group Affiliations
Links
Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation
Penn Brain Science, Translation, Innovation, and Modulation(brainSTIM) Center
Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation
Penn Brain Science, Translation, Innovation, and Modulation(brainSTIM) Center
Education
B.A. (Psychology, magna cum laude)
Harvard University, 1995.
M.S. (Health Sciences and Technology)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology , 2001.
M.D. (Medicine, cum laude)
Harvard Medical School, 2001.
B.A. (Psychology, magna cum laude)
Harvard University, 1995.
M.S. (Health Sciences and Technology)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology , 2001.
M.D. (Medicine, cum laude)
Harvard Medical School, 2001.
Post-Graduate Training
Intern in Internal Medicine, University of California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, 2001-2002.
Resident in Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, 2002-2005.
Fellow in Cognitive Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, 2005-2007.
Intern in Internal Medicine, University of California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, 2001-2002.
Resident in Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, 2002-2005.
Fellow in Cognitive Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, 2005-2007.
Certifications
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 2006.
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Maintenance of Certification (MOC), 2016.
Permanent linkAmerican Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 2006.
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Maintenance of Certification (MOC), 2016.
Description of Research Expertise
My research focus is on the characteristics and limits of functional neuroplasticity in the adult human brain. I investigate how the brain reorganizes itself in response to injury, and whether or not it is possible to enhance the brain’s potential for reorganization in order to speed rehabilitation using noninvasive electrical or magnetic brain stimulation. A second area of interest for me is on the use of noninvasive brain stimulation to elucidate and enhance mechanisms of cognition in healthy individuals, and the biological, social, and ethical implications of neural enhancement.Description of Clinical Expertise
I principally evaluate and treat patients with aphasia due to stroke and neurodegenerative disorders. I also have expertise in the evaluation and management of other cognitive and language disorders.Description of Other Expertise
I am deeply involved in issues related to faculty governance, academic policy, and the role of faculty in university decision-making. I serve as Chair of the Faculty Senate at the University of Pennsylvania, representing the interests and perspectives of faculty across the University.Selected Publications
Bilici, N., Paruzel-Czachura, M., Workman, C. I., Humphries, S., Hamilton, R. H., Chatterjee, A.: Changing the narrative: stories reduce biases against anomalous faces BMC Psychology 14(1): 1205, Jun 2026.Josephy-Hernandez, S.J., Bateman, J.R., Hamilton, R.H.: Survey on the application timeline for behavioral neurology & neuropsychiatry fellowship programs. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Jun 2026.
Perez, G., Udongwo, A.U., Hamilton, R.H., Wexler, A.: “Doing our best:” A qualitative study of researcher challenges administering neuromodulation across different phenotypes. AJOB Neuroscience 15: 1-11, Jun 2026.
Stites, S.D., Lee, B.N., Kuz, C., Adams, M., Harkins, K., Xie, S., Walke, L., Pansak, P., Hamilton, R.: An online vignette study of diagnostic testing: Racial and ethnic differences in Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis confidence and stigma. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring Oct 2025.
Masson-Trottier, M., Tippett, D.C., Rapp, B., Vnenchak, L., Harvey, D.Y., Roncero, C., Chertkow, H., Hamilton, R.H., Hillis, A., Tsapkini, K. : Protocol for a multisite study on the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation as an adjuvant to naming and spelling therapy in the treatment of oral and written naming in individuals with primary progressive aphasia. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience Sep 2025.
Chen, B.B., Haeusermann, T., Dada, A., Hamilton, R.H., James, J.E., Fong, K.C., Dohan, D., Chiong, W.: Race-ethnicity, rurality, and age in prospective preferences and concerns regarding closed-loop implanted neural devices. Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 37(1): 79-87, Aug 2025.
Parchure, S., Xu, Z., Shah-Basak, P., Erickson, B., Harvey, D., Wurzman, R., McAfee, D., Sacchetti, D., Faseyitan, O., Hamilton, R.H.: Predicting neuroplasticity effects of continuous theta burst stimulation with biomarkers from the motor evoked potential TMS input-output curve Clinical Neurophysiology Jul 2025.
Stoll, H., Kelkar, A., Turkeltaub, P.E., Hamilton, R.H., Coslett, B., Medaglia, J.D.: Lesion-induced changes to the network controllability of the right pars triangularis in aphasia. Neurobiology of Language 1(17), Jun 2025.
Hinkle, S.N., Okeh, C.C., Ulloa-Pérez, E., Mani, A., Higginbotham, E.J., Thomas, R., Kearney, M.D., Fahl, C., Schisterman, E.F., Verma, S.S., Hamilton, R., Mumford, S.L.: Perceptions of institutional engagement and inclusion by sexual orientation and gender identity. JAMA Network Open 8(6): e2513772, Jun 2025.
D'Alonzo, B.A., Schneider, A.L.C., Erz, A., Master, C.L., Barnett, I.J., Hamilton, R.H., Wiebe, D.J., Szymczak, J.E.: A qualitative study of collegiate student-athlete experiences of recovery after concussion. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation Page: Online ahead of print. May 2025.