REGINA LAPATE
Principal Investigator
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara. I earned my PhD in 2015 under the mentorship of Richard J. Davidson at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I studied the neural correlates of successful emotion regulation, as well as the function of conscious awareness in emotion. In 2017, I was awarded an NIH postdoctoral fellowship to examine the representational properties and causal role of lateral prefrontal function in emotion with Mark D'Esposito at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2018, I co-edited the 2nd edition of The Nature of Emotion: Fundamental Questions with Davidson, Fox, & Shackman. [cv] [e-mail]
JINGYI WANG
Postdoctoral Scholar
Jingyi received her Ph.D. in 2020 under the mentorship of Helen Barbas at Boston University. Her graduate work in neuroanatomy identified novel pathways connecting the hippocampus, amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex in rhesus monkeys, and delineated the contributions of this network for emotional memory, motivation, and the representation of internal states. In the LEAP Neuro lab, Jingyi is investigating how the frontal pole interacts with cingulate cortex and amygdala during emotion regulation, as well as the impact of amygdala function on hippocampal temporal coding. [cv] [email]
JOANNE STASIAK
Graduate Student
Joanne is a second year graduate student in the Cognitive Neuroscience area. She received a B.A. in Psychology at Adelphi University, then worked as the lab manager at Temple University's SAN Lab where she studied social influences of self-regulation and metacognitive emotional recall. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, she is currently using psychophysiological measures to understand how individuals become aware of their emotional responses, as well as the neural mechanisms involved in emotion perception. She is also interested in examining how one's social environment influences the recognition of one's affective experiences and regulatory ability. [e-mail]
MENGSI LI
Graduate Student
Mengsi is a third year graduate student in Cognitive Neuroscience. She received her bachelor’s degree in Engineering and then earned her Masters in Psychology at Zhejiang University, China, where she investigated emotional memory formation. Mengsi is interested in the neural underpinnings of emotion and emotional memory in complex real-world episodes. In the LEAP Neuro lab, she is investigating the boundaries of emotional sequence learning and how they relate to individual differences in trait affective disposition. Mengsi hopes that her work will improve people’s wellbeing and sense of interconnectedness. [e-mail]
NADEZHDA BARBASHOVA
Graduate Student
Nadezhda (Nadu) is a first-year graduate student. She received an MA in Linguistics at the University of Tübingen, where she was a research assistant in two language and cognition labs. For her thesis, she designed a decision-making experiment investigating the ‘foreign language effect’, a phenomenon in which people experience less fear and accept more risk when using a second language. This area of research sparked her curiosity about the bidirectional influence of cognition and affective processing. Nadu is currently interested in examining how cognitive strategies may modulate the fear response and how fear states are modulated by time horizons. [e-mail]
RUNAN WANG
Lab Manager
Runan graduated with a B.S. in Biopsychology from UCSB in 2022. She is interested in the neural bases of emotion regulation and on how negative affect influences emotion regulation and cognition. In the LEAP Neuro lab, she works on projects examining whether individual differences in time-emotion integration capacity account for important variation in emotional functioning. In the future, she would like to pursue a Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience or experimental psychology with the long-term goal of improving our understanding and treatment of affective disorders. [e-mail]
CHRISTINA VILLANUEVA
Project Coordinator
Christina graduated with a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences from UCSB in 2023. Christina is interested in better understanding the neural correlates of symptoms associated with neurocognitive disorders, and she hopes to apply this knowledge in a clinical setting to investigate new ways to improve treatments for those disorders. In the future, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience to continue to study the complexities of the human brain.
AHMED AYESH
Undergraduate Researcher
Ahmed is a recent UCSB graduate who completed a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. After taking a neurobiology course and learning about how the amygdala is responsible for regulating emotional responses, Ahmed became fascinated with exploring how emotions can exist outside of their appropriate temporal context, a phenomenon relevant to various neurological disorders. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, he is assisting Mengsi Li in investigating the temporal coding of dynamic emotional experiences using behavioral and electrophysiological methods.
ANA NAKAMURA
Undergraduate Researcher
Ana is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences and a minor in Applied Psychology. In the LEAP Neuro lab, she is assisting Dr. Jingyi Wang with her research on the impact of emotions on the temporal organization of memory. Ana is interested in neuroscience and social psychology and is eager to deepen her understanding of how emotion plays a role in brain behavior, as well as the mechanisms behind neurocognitive disorders. In the future, she plans on pursuing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology and specializing in neuropsychology.
ANNA SOFIA GUERRA
Undergraduate Researcher
Anna Sofia is a third-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences with a minor in Statistical Science. She is interested in brain-behavior associations, techniques that can be used to investigate them, and what those findings can reveal about the human condition. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, Anna Sofia is assisting Mengsi Li in investigating the context-sensitivity of affective coloring and its implications for emotional functioning. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience.
ARAV AGARWAL
Undergraduate Researcher
Arav is a first-year undergraduate pursuing his B.S. in Biopsychology. He is interested in the neural networks underlying emotion and how they contribute to varying neurological disorders. In the LEAP Lab, Arav is assisting Mengsi Li in exploring how dynamic emotional experiences are temporally encoded, employing both behavioral and neuroimaging techniques. Following graduation, Arav hopes to pursue an MD degree.
CAMBELL INGRAM
Undergraduate Researcher
Cambell is a fourth-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences and a minor in Applied Psychology. She is interested in studying embodied cognition and theories of consciousness. In the LEAP Neuro lab, Cambell assists Joanne with her research on emotional awareness and physiological arousal. After graduation, she hopes to continue studying consciousness and pursue a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology.
CHLOE SWOISKIN
Undergraduate Researcher
Chloe is a fourth-year undergraduate student at UCSB pursuing a B.S. in Biopsychology and a B.F.A. in Dance. She is interested in studying neural mechanisms underlying cognitive and emotional processes, and particularly the effects of dance and exercise on cognitive, emotional, and social function. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, Chloe assists Dr. Jingyi Wang to study how changes in emotional states affect temporal memory. After graduation, Chloe hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience.
DENIS SHRESTHA
Undergraduate Researcher
Denis is a third-year undergraduate student at UCSB pursuing a degree in Pharmacology. He is interested in studying the neural foundations of emotion regulation and understanding the impact of negative affect on emotion regulation, cognition, and time perception. In the LEAP Neuro lab, Denis works with Dr. Jingyi Wang, primarily focusing on psychophysiology and the impact of specific emotional events on cognitive processes and the perception of time. After graduation, Denis plans on attending medical school.
EMILY MI
Undergraduate Researcher
Emily is a second-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Biopsychology. She is interested in using various methodologies, including functional neuroimaging and psychophysiology, to examine biological correlates of cognitive processes. Emily is working with Joanne to assess emotional-physiological coherence. Following graduation, Emily aims to attend graduate school to study neuroscience.
IZZY WANG
Undergraduate Researcher
Izzy is a fourth-year undergraduate pursuing a degree in Economics and Accounting and a minor in Applied Psychology. She is interested in understanding the impact of amygdala-engaging episodes on various aspects of well-being and decision-making. In the LEAP Lab, Izzy is assisting Mengsi Li in exploring how dynamic emotional experiences are temporally encoded, employing behavioral and neuroimaging techniques. After graduation, she hopes to attend medical school and pursue a career in psychiatry.
JASMINE DIAZ
Undergraduate Researcher
Jasmine is a fourth-year undergraduate pursuing her B.S. in Psychological & Brain Sciences with a minor in Applied Psychology. She is interested in neurological and cognitive underpinnings of psychiatric and mental disorders. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, Jasmine is assisting Mengsi Li in investigating the temporal coding of dynamic emotional experiences using behavioral and electrophysiological methods. After graduation, Jasmine hopes to obtain a PhD in Clinical Psychology.
JEEVIKA ADDA
Undergraduate Researcher
Jeevika Adda is a second-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences. She is interested in cognitive neuroscience and enjoys learning about functional specialization and integration across brain regions and systems. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, Jeevika is assisting Mengsi Li in investigating the temporal coding of dynamic emotional experiences using behavioral and electrophysiological methods. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a PhD in neuroscience.
JOY SUN
Undergraduate Researcher
Joy is a second-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences and a minor in Applied Psychology. She is interested in the neural underpinnings of emotion-cognition interactions. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, Joy is assisting Mengsi Li in exploring how dynamic emotional experiences are temporally encoded, employing both behavioral and neuroimaging techniques. In the future, she hopes to pursue a PhD in neuroscience or clinical psychology.
KAITLIN KHONG
Undergraduate Researcher
Kaitlin is currently a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S in Statistics and Data Science. She is particularly interested in the intersection between cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and data science. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, Kaitlin is assisting Dr. Jingyi Wang in investigating temporal coding mechanisms using dense sampling datasets acquired with MRI. After graduation, she plans to pursue an advanced degree in Data Science.
KASEY BOHNEY
Undergraduate Researcher
Kasey is a fourth-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences. She is interested in investigating the intricate relationship between the brain, physiology, and emotions. In the LEAP Neuro, Kasey is assisting Mengsi Li in investigating the context-sensitivity of affective spillover and its implications for emotional functioning. After graduation, she hopes to pursue an MD or a PhD in clinical psychology.
LEAH WINTER
Undergraduate Researcher
Leah is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. degree in Biopsychology with a minor in Applied Psychology. She is interested in neurophysiology and the scientific role emotions play in motivated behaviors. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, Leah assists Dr. Jingyi Wang in her research on neural pathways of the interactions between emotion and temporal memory. After graduation, she hopes to take a gap year volunteering in a developing country prior to attending medical school.
MEGAN PAU
Undergraduate Researcher
Megan is a second-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Biopsychology. She is interested in clinical neuroscience and how the neural networks of emotion can contribute to neurological and mental disorders. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, Megan is assisting Mengsi Li in investigating the context-sensitivity of affective coloring and its implications for emotional functioning. After graduation, she hopes to pursue an MD, aspiring to become a psychiatrist.
MELIKAH ARCIAGA
Undergraduate Researcher
Melikah is a second-year undergraduate student in PBS. She is curious about how understanding the brain can help us gain insight into inter-individual variation in health, hormones, diseases, and personality disorders. In LEAP Neuro Lab, she is currently assisting Joanne Stasiak with her research using psychophysiological methods to probe how people become aware of their emotions, and unveiling the neural mechanisms underlying emotion perception. In the future, Melikah plans to go to graduate school to continue to learn about the brain.
PARKER BARANDON
Undergraduate Researcher
Parker is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences. He is interested in the neural basis of emotion regulation, the relationship between emotions and social behavior, embodied cognition, functional neuroimaging, theories of consciousness, intergroup neuroscience, and philosophy of mind. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, Parker assists Joanne in studying emotion-motor interactions and paradoxical kinesia in Parkinson’s Disease. After graduation, he hopes to pursue a PhD in social or cognitive neuroscience.
REICHER BERGSTEIN
Undergraduate Researcher
Reicher is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences and a minor in Applied Psychology. He is interested in affective and cognitive neuroscience, as well as psychopathology associated with brains. In the LEAP Neuro lab, Reicher is assisting Dr. Jingyi Wang in her investigation of the relationship between emotional stimuli and temporal memory. After graduation, he hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical neuropsychology.
TORI LEVIER
Undergraduate Researcher
Tori is a second-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences. She is interested in affective and cognitive neuroscience, and particularly emotion-cognition interactions. In the LEAP Neuro lab, Tori is assisting Mengsi Li in investigating the temporal coding of dynamic emotional experiences using behavioral and electrophysiological methods. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a PhD in affective or cognitive neuroscience.
YUYUE (FRANCES) JIANG
Undergraduate Researcher
Frances is a second-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences, a B.A. in Biology in CCS, and a minor in Applied Psychology. She is interested in affective and cognitive neuroscience, especially their connections with psychopathology. She has a broad interest in brain malfunctions in different mood and anxiety disorders, spanning from circuitry to molecular levels. She is currently assisting Dr. Jingyi Wang in investigating the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying emotion and temporal memory interaction. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology or affective neuroscience.
Alumni
ALYSSA SHISHKOV
ALANA MILLER
CONNOR DING
BROOKE SCHWARTZMAN
JASON ZIPEROVICH
ISABEL SCHUMAN
LAUREN ECKHARDT
JULIA PRATT
MIA JEFFERY
LEELA RAY
TAYLOR LI
RACHEL GURARIE