A central theme of our research is the role of automatic action tendencies in affective decision-making, and how emotion control allows the control of such tendencies. We also work towards practical implications of this perspective by testing the hypothesis that direct modulation of abnormal action tendencies - via retraining, electrical neuromodulation, or pharmacology - can improve psychopathological states and reactions to stress. Our research applies multiple neuroscience techniques (fMRI, EEG, tACS en TUS) in combination with stress challenges or hormone administration.
Typical questions we address are:
- How do we control our automatic emotional action tendencies?
- How do we decide to shift from initial freeze reactions to active fight/flight reactions?
- How is motivational behavior altered in anxious and aggressive samples?
Investigating motivational and stress-related behavior at a neural level can provide important clues as to the fundamental mechanisms by which emotion control operates. However, besides providing novel theoretic insights, the knowledge derived from our studies also serves social aims. For instance, our research is currently used to develop new intervention studies (for example using testosterone to boost exposure therapies in social phobia) and to inform policy debates on aggression management by the Ministry of Safety and Justice. This research group is part of Theme 2: Perception, Action and Decision-making.