RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Social interactions have a major impact on quality of life, yet declining social contacts are common in older populations. We study the motivation to seek social contact in people with Parkinson's disease and older adults, for whom dopaminergic dysfunction can lead to reduced reward anticipation and experience of reward. To track people’s real-world social interactions, we use Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA).

An imbalance between habits and goal-directed behavior is thought to play a role in maladaptive behaviors and psychopathology as well as everyday routine behavior. However, it is challenging to study habits in the lab and to relate experimental assessments of habits to real-world experiences. We aim to track the emergence of a real-world habits, examine the factors that encourage/discourage habit development, and understand the relationship between habits measured in the lab and in the real-world. 

Poor eating habits can be difficult to change, both related to overeating and undereating (as seen in some eating disorders). We study the relationship between imbalances in habitual and controlled behavior and maladaptive eating patterns.