Stress, Emotions, and the Body: An integrated approach
Stress is an unavoidable part of modern life, often affecting our well-being. Stressful events are deeply emotional, and the ability to regulate these intense emotions is crucial for protecting ourselves from the harmful effects of these situations. Emotion regulation can be explicit (involving conscious effort and awareness) or implicit (automatic and unconscious). Both processes rely on complex interactions across multiple levels, influenced by our body’s stress response mechanisms, including heart rate variability and cortisol release. However, emotion regulation often shifts under acute stress, where these abilities are most needed, highlighting significant individual differences.
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In this project, we combine state-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques with ecological momentary assessments, physiological monitoring, and advanced data analysis to provide fresh insights into key questions about stress, emotions, and their regulation.
Key Research Questions:
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How do individual differences in interoceptive abilities influence the relationship between emotion regulation and stress? We aim to identify how sensitivity to bodily signals affects the ability to regulate emotions under stress.
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How do emotional experiences, stress, and body awareness fluctuate in daily life? We will explore moment-by-moment changes through smartphone-based ecological momentary assessments.​​
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By integrating neural, physiological, biological, and real-world behavioral data, this project seeks to unravel the intricate interplay between stress, emotions, and the body, offering new perspectives on what makes individuals more or less resilient to the challenges of modern life.​
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