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Oxford Centre for Emotions and Affective Neuroscience (Prof. Elaine Fox)

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Established in 2013

Awarded the ERC Advanced Investigator 2013

Research supporting the CogBIAS Project

The Oxford Centre for Emotions and Affective Neuroscience (OCEAN) aims to understand why some people are resilient and able to withstand whatever life throws at them, while others are emotionally vulnerable and at risk of developing anxiety disorders and depression. We use a variety of multidisciplinary approaches utilizing methods from cognitive psychology, neuroscience and molecular genetics to understand human emotions and affective reactivity across the lifespan.

Our research focuses on cognitive approaches to emotional vulnerability and emotional resilience. The general research strategy is to a) identify specific “toxic” cognitive biases that are associated with heightened anxiety, depression and addiction risk,  b) investigate whether these biases can be modified, c) identify whether these changes at a cognitive level lead to a reduction in emotional vulnerability, d) identify the specific cognitive biases that are associated with resilience and optimal mental health and well-being, e) study the specific genetic profiles that are associated with these potentially toxic and beneficial cognitive biases, and f) determine whether we can boost resilience by re-training certain cognitive and neural mechanisms.

Professor Elaine Fox was awarded an ERC Advanced Investigator Award in 2013, to support the CogBIAS project, which investigates the cognitive, neural and genetic mechanisms underlying emotional vulnerability as well as optimal mental health. This project is currently underway and the OCEAN is currently recruiting schools to take part in a longitudinal study of emotional vulnerability and resilience. Various studies with adults are also underway.

Our team

Research Vacancies

 

We are not currently advertising any research positions.

OCEAN News & Media Coverage

Elaine Fox discussed Depression: Nature and Nurture with Comedian Ruby Wax in an event hosted by Salon London and supported by the Wellcome Trust Hub at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk on 17th July http://www.latitudefestival.com/line-up/artist/salon-london-depression-nature-nurture-genetics-ruby-wax-and-prof-elaine-fox

 

DPhil student Lauren Heathcote appeared on the BBC South Today recently, talking about her new research on children with chronic pain. Lauren is conducting a large, randomised controlled trial of a novel computerised intervention, Attention Bias Modification, for children with chronic pain. The trial is funded by the UK-based charity Action Medical Research http://www.action.org.uk, and is taking place at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Hospital. Lauren also appeared on BBC Radio Oxford to discuss her research: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p027tvtv

 

Books

Books

Emotion Science: Academic Book by Elaine Fox Rainy Brain Sunny Brain by Elaine Fox

Related research themes

Our research within this theme covers: inter-group beliefs, prejudice and behaviour; reducing inter-group conflict; individual-group communication, emotional control and regulation; developing, evaluating and disseminating psychological therapies for emotional disorders.
Social Psychology and Psychological Disorders
Cognitive Neuroscientists seek to understand how the cognitive mechanisms that guide human behaviour are implemented in the neural circuitry of the brain.
Cognitive Neuroscience