Abstract

Peter and Patricia Gruber Lecture: The Emotional Brain: Embracing the Complexity

Akil H
52nd Annual Meeting of Society for Neuroscience. 2023.

Abstract

This lecture will describe a quest to understand the brain biology of emotions and uncover the role of distinct temperaments in shaping vulnerability to mood and addictive disorders. Genetic, molecular, circuit, and behavioral studies in animals and humans reveal profound individual differences in the encoding of emotionality. They also point to counterregulatory mechanisms that enhance stress coping and impart resilience to negative emotions. Translational implications will be discussed.