In collaboration with universities throughout the country, The North Texas Heart Study is a NIH funded project that is exploring the relationship between social vigilance, stress, and atherosclerosis. Led by Dr. John Ruiz, we have implemented a wide range of methods and assessments to comprehensively assess psychosocial, behavioral, biological, and clinical disease processes.
Effects of Stress on Cognitive Aging, Physiology and Emotion (ESCAPE)
In collaboration with many investigators at Penn State and elsewhere, led by Dr. Martin Sliwinski, Dr. Jennifer Graham-Engeland and Dr. Chris Engeland, the Effects of Stress on Cognitive Aging, Physiology, and Emotion (ESCAPE) series of studies explore the relationship between stress, aging, inflammation, and health. Funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), we are using novel ambulatory assessment methods in order to explore the relationship between stress and cognitive aging and exploring mechanisms for these relationships (e.g., inflammation).
Smoking Behavior in Daily Life
In a series of collaborative National Institute of Health(NIH) funded projects, led by Dr. Stephen Wilson, we are utilizing a range of methods – including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) – to examine how neural responses to drug and non-drug rewards influence smoking behavior in the lab and in daily life. We are also deploying novel techniques, such as mobile risk-taking tasks and real-time neurofeedback during fMRI, to better understand and explore potential interventions for individuals trying to quit smoking.
Mindfulness and Stress Reduction
In collaboration with Dr. David Creswell, and funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), we are exploring the underlying mechanisms of stress reduction and mindfulness training. In particular, we have employed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods to examine this relationship in daily life and are looking at influences on well-being, health, and biomarkers.
Weight Control for Overweight and Obese Pregnant Women
Under the direction of principal investigator, Dr. Danielle Downs, this collaborative line of work is exploring ways to optimize weight control interventions for overweight and obese pregnant women. This line of research is funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) with aims to utilize E-Health technology and System Science to tailor to individual weight control needs.
Natural Acoustics and Stress
In collaboration with Dr. Peter Newman and Dr. Derrick Taff, this line of work explores how natural and man-made noises influence stress recovery. We are extending prior work by utilizing well-validated laboratory stress inductions and testing recovery using both health biomarkers and self-report measures.