Matthew Goldfinger, DO, MS


Clinician Investigator, Instructor
NSI Neuro Behavioral MGPO, Mass General Research Institute
Assistant Neurologist
Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital

Education

DO 2019
MS 2019

Research Interests

artifical intelligence; attention; brain networks; brain stimulation; brain-mind-body; child neurology; childhood trauma; curriculum; functional brain connectivity; functional neurological disorder; interdisciplinary communication; medical education; medical ethics; neuroethics; neuroplasticity; psychedelics; psychotherapeutic processes; salience; trauma informed care

Research Narrative

My research focuses on Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), with a particular emphasis on pediatric populations and the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie symptom emergence and recovery. I'm interested in how disruptions in predictive coding, interoceptive processing, and attention can lead to functional symptoms, and how neuroplasticity can be harnessed through multidisciplinary interventions—such as psychotherapy, sensorimotor retraining, and neuromodulation—to promote recovery and restore agency.
 
In parallel, I work at the intersection of medical education, ethics, and communication, developing strategies to improve how complex diagnoses like FND are explained to patients, families, and clinicians. My work incorporates simulation-based training, narrative approaches, and emerging tools such as AI to enhance diagnostic clarity and reduce stigma in conditions characterized by diagnostic uncertainty. I aim to build integrated models of care that are scientifically grounded, developmentally sensitive, and patient-centered.