Welcome

The Mechanisms of Affect Dysregulation (MAD) lab is translational research and treatment unit dedicated to expanding our understanding of the biological, psychological (cognitive-affective) and environmental mechanisms underlying difficulties in affect regulation (control of one’s emotional state). This is achieved through a combination of behavioral and neuroimaging studies among individuals with and without difficulties in affect dysregulation. Though we are interested in all forms of affect dysregulation, our focus is on problems with anger and self / other directed aggression. This includes research on Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), a psychological disorder defined by repeated problems with anger control leading to aggressive outburst. We are using the information from our research to develop more efficacious treatments for IED and similar disorders. Our central research aims are:

To translate basic science research on models of affect to identify individual differences in the biological / psychological substrates of affect (dys) regulation.
To gain a better understanding of how environmental factors (including acute intoxication) can interact with individual differences to produce alterations in cognition and affect regulation.
To conduct neurophysiologic and behavioral studies to develop more effective ways to assess and treat dysregulated affect, with a focus on treatment of Intermittent Explosive Disorder, which is a disorder of dysregulated anger and aggression.

If you would like to see more information about our studies or are interested in participating, please visit the Current Studies page.