In the Anticipation, Cognition and Emotion (ACE) lab, we use behavioral and multi-modal neuroimaging methods (MRI, fMRI, DTI, NIRS) to understand why even sub-threshold symptoms of depression, mania and anxiety often impair cognitive and overall psychosocial functioning in affected individuals.

We believe that people activate important motivational, cognitive and emotional states during preparation for or anticipation of task performance. Individuals with mood disorders are biased in their anticipation of future positive and negative events. Our research examines the contribution of anticipation-related processes to the mood symptoms – behavior – brain relationships.