The complex ability to respond to change and other challenges in the environment renders a person resilient to major life stressors. Difficulties with changing the way we think, feel or act are associated with mental, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative disorders. Indeed, those who are flexible tend to be more resilient, and the ability to maintain flexible responding may particularly be important as we age.

Neurobiologically, the dopamine system is traditionally thought to underpin flexibility but recent findings suggest a role for other neurotransmitters as well, including norepinephrine and acetylcholine. Psychologically, behavioural laboratory tasks and more novel approaches measuring psychophysiology and daily life experiences associate cognitive and emotional flexibility with various outcomes of mental wellbeing.

The symposium will introduce new perspectives on cognitive and emotional flexibility and their brain underpinnings, and will explore novel relevant neuroscientific and psychological methods.

A n a s t a s i a   C h r i s t a k o u
Associate Professor   and   Director of Imaging
University of Reading

E l a i n e   F o x
Professor of Psychology and Affective Neuroscience
University of Oxford

M a r a   M a t h e r
Professor of Gerontology and Psychology
University of Southern California

R u s s   P o l d r a c k
Professor of Psychology
Stanford University

M i c h i k o   S a k a k i
Senior Research Fellow
University of Reading