The Computational Research on Affect and Learning (CORAL) Lab’s primary focus is to understand personality pathology and associated outcomes, including maladaptive decision-making processes, risky behavior, and social dysfunction. We examine social dysfunction, a hallmark manifestation of personality pathology, at three levels:

(1) Moment-to-moment interpersonal processes where people fall out of sync

(2) General cognitive biases that drive heightened reactivity or misinterpretation of social cues

(3) Affect-driven impulsivity, where negative affect in interpersonal conflict leads to maladaptive decisions that further exacerbate social challenges. 

Using computational reinforcement learning models, multilevel modeling, and methods including fMRI, ECG, EDA, and eye tracking, we aim to map the neural and physiological substrates of these processes.