About Me
My research is all about understanding how emotion is organized in the brain. I use fMRI during film to elicit dynamic emotion experience and measure their associated brain responses. I then use advanced neuroimaging analysis to bring together complex emotion theory with fMRI measurements. I try to push the boundaries of the field by combining cutting egde methods and specifically by probing brain dynamics. This current project is very much a team effort, involving an interdisciplinary team of researchers and students.
Before coming to Switzerland in December 2019, I completed my PhD at the University of Roehampton in the Centre for Cognition, Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (CNN) under the supervision of Prof. Paul Allen. During my doctoral studies I investigated the effects of high trait anxiety on attentional control as outlined in Attentional Control Theory. Specifically, I focused on underlying inefficiencies in neural processing and the use of real-time fMRI neurofeedback targeting impaired function to improve attentional control. I have previously studied at the University of York (M.Sc. Cognitive Neuroscience), the Universität Freiburg (B.Sc. Psychology) and the University of Bath (Visiting Student).
Charting Emotion Components and Dynamics in the Human Brain Using Cinema
Emotions are dynamic and complex adaptations to our enviroment. Psychology offers a wealth of theoretical understanding of the processes underlying emotions, which neuroscience has the tools to test empirically. My research is based on the Component Process Model (CPM), which states that emotions are based on continous cognitive appraisal and reappraisal of the environment. I use fMRI data acquired during movie watching in combination with detailed emotion annotations of those movies to gain a better understanding of how emotion is organized in the brain. For this purpose, I apply state-of-the art analysis techniques, specifically those probing dynamic functional connectivity.
Student Projects
I enjoy supervising students and always appreciate an addition to the team. Together with my doctorate student, we supervise semester projects and master theses most semesters. So if you are interested in working with us for your student project, please get in touch. You can also check the Open Projects page for more information on current student projects.
List of Publications