Research

The primary focus of our lab is anxiety and stress vulnerability, with a particular emphasis on the role of cognitive biases in the etiology and maintenance of anxiety disorders.

We use cognitive-experimental paradigms, randomized controlled trials, and a cognitive-neuroscience approach to explore questions such as: To what extent are threat biases automatic? What is the relative involvement of state and trait variables in threat bias? What are the neural correlates of threat biases in anxiety? What are the effects of acute stress on threat processing? And, is it possible to modify emotional vulnerability to stress and reduce anxiety symptoms through direct manipulation of selective information processing?

The primary goal of this line of research is to develop new strategies for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of anxiety disorders.


⇒New: read about our recently-launched Attention Bias Modification global effort, and learn how you can join.