At NYU Langone’s Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, we study the neuroscience of emotions and how they impact behavior. Our research examines the origins of emotion and emotional dysfunction at both the behavioral and neural levels, including cellular, molecular, and genetic activity.

We seek to identify the genetic roots, molecular foundations, and memory mechanisms that underlie normal fear and susceptibility to anxiety disorders in children.

Emotion and Brain Research Laboratories

We collaborate with clinical investigators at the Emotional Brain Institute, the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, and other NYU schools and colleges. We also partner with educators and policymakers throughout the state of New York to develop, test, and implement large-scale prevention strategies.

Regina M. Sullivan Laboratory

Researchers in the laboratory of Regina M. Sullivan, PhD, examine the effects of early-life trauma on brain and behavior development, as well as the role caregivers play in buffering the consequences of adverse events in infancy. Interactions between caregivers and infants directly impact the development of brain structures, influence behavior and emotion, and produce lifelong consequences for the child.

Christopher K. Cain Laboratory

Investigators in the laboratory of Christopher K. Cain, PhD, focus on the neural mechanisms of emotional learning and memory, especially those that mediate avoidance, extinction, and safety conditioning. These processes are critical for coping with traumatic experiences. Understanding how the brain encodes emotional memory may lead to new and better treatments for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and addiction.

Joseph E. LeDoux Laboratory

Researchers in the laboratory of Joseph E. LeDoux at the Center for Neural Science at NYU study the relation between emotion and memory. Their work at NYU and the Emotional Brain Institute builds on past research using animal models to unlock the secrets of emotions, especially fear and anxiety.

Donald A. Wilson Laboratory

Researchers in the laboratory of Donald A. Wilson, PhD, study how the mammalian brain processes and remembers information. The lab uses electrophysiological, behavioral, neuroanatomical, and pharmacological approaches to explore the neurobiology of memory and the role of experience in sensory system function across the lifespan, from early development through old age.