Abstract:

Adaptive behaviour in emotional contexts requires overcoming automatic biases and flexibly adjusting to environmental changes. In this talk, I will present findings from two studies investigating the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying these control processes.

In the first study (N=30+N=300 online), we used transcranial focused ultrasound (TUS) to test the causal role of the basolateral amygdala in steering emotional approach/avoidance biases. TUS altered approach tendencies, particularly for emotionally ambiguous stimuli, without impairing feedback learning. High-resolution 7T-MRI provided proof of target engagement, supporting the amygdala’s role in regulating emotional biases.

In the second study (N=30+N=200 online), we examined how individuals estimate the timescale of change in emotional environments to guide evidence integration. Using a continuous emotion rating task and EEG, we found that participants flexibly adjusted their integration window based on environmental volatility. To probe the role of NMDA receptors in this process, we administered intravenous ketamine, assessing its impact on timescale estimation and belief updating. Together, these studies highlight complementary mechanisms—amygdala function in overcoming automatic biases and NMDA receptors in adapting to emotional volatility—that support flexible emotional decision-making. Understanding these processes has important implications for psychiatric disorders characterised by impaired emotional control.

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