Lab Mission

Current Research Topics 

In the SNaP Lab, we are interested in the relationships between painkillers and other prescription and non-prescription medication, physical pain, psychological pain, and empathic pain, and how these factors shape activity in the brain. We deep-dive into how psychological variables and pharmacological agents dynamically influence social responses, pain, and overall well-being. 

Some Questions Under Investigation

• How is physical pain, social pain, and empathic pain related, on the experiential and neurophysiological levels?

• How do over-the-counter medications affect social cognition, affect and behavior in humans? 

• How do psychosocial factors moderate the pain-relieving effects of analgesics?

• What are social factors involved in the experience of chronic pain?

Cutting-Edge Methodologies 

We employ a wide array of research methods to answer these questions, such as:  

• Neuroimaging (e.g. fMRI)

• Psychophysiological assessments

• Behavioral experiments

• Ethical pain induction techniques 

Why does this Matter? 

Our ultimate mission is to conduct cutting-edge research that can shape the development of more effective therapeutic interventions to treat pain, to refine pain management strategies, and to advance our comprehension of the complex interplay between social experience and the perception of physical pain.