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 fourth-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 fifth-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 second-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]
SYDNEY FORTNER
Lab Manager
Sydney graduated with a B.A. in Neuroscience and Anthropology from Dartmouth College in 2024, where she conducted a case study on early-emerging prosopometamorphopsia (PMO), a disorder characterized by distorted facial perception. In the LEAP Neuro lab, Sydney investigates how emotional life events shape temporal memory and examines how the hippocampus encodes time through neural pattern similarity drift. She intends to pursue a PhD in experimental neuroscience, focusing on communication, perception, and temporality.
CHRISTINA VILLANUEVA
Lab Assistant
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.
PARKER BARANDON
Lab Assistant
Parker graduated from UCSB in 2025 with a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences. He is interested in emotion regulation, social cognition, intergroup relations, and philosophy of mind. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, he examines the role of emotion in motor control and temporal memory. After his time as lab assistant, he hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in social neuroscience.
ALANNA LEE
Undergraduate Researcher
Alanna is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Cell and Developmental Biology with a minor in History of Art and Architecture. She is interested in emotional regulation and how emotions impact behavior and decision-making, especially in mood disorders. Currently, she assists Dr. Jingyi Wang in researching how emotional events influence our perception of time. After graduation, Alanna plans to pursue a graduate degree in neuroscience.
ANDRA VINCZE
Undergraduate Researcher
Andra is a third-year majoring pursuing a B.S. in Biology. She is interested in cognitive function and emotional responses to triggering events. In the LEAP Neuro lab, Andra assists Nadu Barbashova in her research on fear, metacognition, and cognitive control. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in healthcare.
BENJAMIN SCHAFFER
Undergraduate Researcher
Ben is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Biopsychology. He is interested in neuropharmacology and neurodegenerative diseases. In the LEAP Neuro lab, Ben assists Sydney Fortner in investigating the neural mechanisms and cognitive factors underlying emotional memories and time perception. After graduation, Ben plans to attend medical school to pursue neurology.
BROOKE DUBS
Undergraduate Researcher
Brooke graduated from CU Boulder in 2024 with a degree in Biochemistry and a minor in Spanish Language. She is interested in the intersection of neuroscience and biochemistry, focusing on how cognition and emotional regulation impact physical health. In the LEAP Lab, Brooke assists Sydney Fortner with her research regarding how emotional life events shape temporal memory. She intends to pursue an interdisciplinary graduate program combining cognitive neuroscience and biochemistry.
BROOKE ROEKER
Undergraduate Researcher
Brooke is a third-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Applied Psychology. She is interested in the neural mechanisms underlying emotional regulation and how these processes shape cognitive function and behavior. Brooke is currently assisting Mengsi Li and Nadu Barbashova, observing how valenced emotional experiences influence time perception and memory. After graduation, she hopes to pursue an MD integrated with clinical neuroscience.
COHEN FERRARI
Undergraduate Researcher
Cohen is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Biology. He is interested in the biological basis of psychological disorders and how emerging technologies can reveal the physical mechanisms behind conditions traditionally understood through behavior. In the LEAP Neuro lab, Cohen assists Dr. Jingyi Wang in studying how changes in emotion affect temporal memory using both fMRI and TMS. After graduation, he plans to attend medical school and is considering a career in neurosurgery.
CURRAN HOXIE
Undergraduate Researcher
Curran is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences. He is interested in exploring the mechanisms of memory storage, as well as how neuroimaging techniques can be utilized to examine cognitive processes. In the LEAP Neuro lab, he assists Nadu Barbashova in studying how individuals sustain cognitive control in the presence of negative emotions. After graduation, he plans to pursue a PhD in neuroscience.
EMILY MI
Undergraduate Researcher
Emily is a fourth-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.
EMMA KATES-HARBECK
Undergraduate Researcher
Emma is a fourth-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences. She is interested in exploring how neural abnormalities and lesions impact cognition and behavior. In the LEAP Neuro lab, Emma assists Nadu Barbashova on her projects exploring the effects of fear on cognitive performance. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to study cognitive neuroscience.
HAYLEY SLOME
Undergraduate Researcher
Hayley is a third-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Biopsychology. She is interested in emotional processing and regulation, particularly within neurocognitive disorders. In the LEAP Neuro lab, she is assisting Mengsi Li in her research using neuromodulation to explore the mechanisms of emotion-time integration. After graduation, Hayley plans to pursue a degree in healthcare.
ISABEL WAITE
Undergraduate Researcher
Isabel is a third-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Biopsychology. She is broadly interested in how varied forms of screen interaction affect emotional responses and overall mental health. In the LEAP Neuro lab, Isabel is assisting Mengsi Li in her research exploring context-sensitivity of affect dynamics and neural mechanisms of emotion-temporal integration. After graduation, Isabel plans on attending physician assistant school.
JOY SUN
Undergraduate Researcher
Joy is a fourth-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.
KATHERINE RETZER
Undergraduate Researcher
Katherine is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences with a minor in Anthropology. She is interested in applying functional neuroimaging and psychophysiological methods to investigate why and how cognitive functions are affected following trauma and in stress-related disorders. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, she assists Dr. Jingyi Wang in researching how emotional events influence temporal memory through experimental fMRI and TMS sessions. After graduation, she intends to pursue a PhD in Cognitive Psychology.
LUCAS CHOI
Undergraduate Researcher
Lucas Choi is a fourth-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a minor in Speech-Language Sciences & Disorders. He is interested in emotional regulation and memory storage methods. He is assisting Mengsi Li in her research on context-sensitivity of affect dynamics and neural mechanisms of emotion-temporal integration. After graduation, Lucas hopes to attend medical school and pursue psychiatry.
MEGAN PAU
Undergraduate Researcher
Megan is a fourth-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.
NATALIE ZEBLEY
Undergraduate Researcher
Natalie Zebley is a second-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences. She is interested in the neural mechanisms and psychological functions of conscious awareness, emotion, and emotional regulation. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, she is assisting Sydney Fortner and Mengsi Li on the Life of Memories Project, which explores real-life emotional memories and their temporal dynamics. After graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology or neuroscience.
NEELAKSHI IYER
Undergraduate Researcher
Neelakshi is a fourth-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Biopsychology. She is interested in exploring the various mechanisms of memory, and how different behaviors impact memory and retention. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, she works under Mengsi Li and Nadu Barbashova, studying real-life emotional memories and their neural underpinnings. After graduation, Neelakshi hopes to attend medical school with a focus on neuroscience.
NIYA JAIN
Undergraduate Researcher
Niya is a second-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences and Statistics and Data Science. She is interested in neurological responses behind processing of emotions. In LEAP Neuro lab, she assists Dr. Jingyi Wang in her research on temporal distancing with negatively and positively perceived images.
SANCHITA KOPPA
Undergraduate Researcher
Sanchita is a second-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Psychological and Brain Sciences and a B.A. in Economics. Sanchita is interested in the cognitive processes behind emotional regulation and perception, particularly in social environments. In the LEAP Neuro lab, Sanchita assists Joanne Stasiak in running MRI studies to assess physio-emotional interoception. Following graduation, Sanchita plans to pursue a graduate degree in social psychology.
SOFIA FATEEVA
Undergraduate Researcher
Sofia is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Biopsychology. She is interested in how the brain regulates emotional experiences and how these processes relate to mental health. In the LEAP Neuro lab, she assists Mengsi Li in studying the context-sensitivity of affect dynamics and neural mechanisms of emotion-temporal integration. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school to become a psychiatrist.
SOPHIA FUNG
Undergraduate Researcher
Sophia is a fourth-year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a minor in Applied Psychology. She is interested in the neural mechanisms behind emotional regulation and behavioral conditions in individuals with autism. Sophia is assisting Mengsi Li with projects investigating the neural basis of emotions and emotional memory using behavioral, neurostimulation, and neuroimaging methods. After graduation, Sophia hopes to attend dental school and pursue dentistry, with an interest in expanding access for neurodivergent individuals.
SRUTHI SUDARSAN
Undergraduate Researcher
Sruthi is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S in Biology and B.S in Statistics and Data Science. She is interested in the intersection between technology and medicine, specifically the use of computational and data analysis tools in neuroimaging. In the LEAP Neuro Lab, Sruthi is assisting Mengsi Li and Sydney Fortner in studying the emotional and temporal dynamics of real-life memories. After graduation, she hopes to attend medical school and pursue a career in pediatric neurology.
Alumni
Lab Managers
RUNAN WANG
Undergraduate Researchers
CLAIRE HERNANDEZ
ANNA SOFIA GUERRA
DENIS SHRESTHA
COOPER EMERY
REBECCA LITTLE
EMILY COHEN
YUYUE (FRANCES) JIANG
SUKARI LINDE-GOODFELLOW
ARAV AGARWAL
ANA NAKAMURA
CHLOE SWOISKIN
CAMBELL INGRAM
JASMINE DIAZ
IZZY WANG
KASEY BOHNEY
JEEVIKA ADDA
REICHER BERGSTEIN
LEAH WINTER
ALANA MILLER
TORI LEVIER
ALYSSA SHISHKOV
CONNOR DING
BROOKE SCHWARTZMAN
JASON ZIPEROVICH
ISABEL SCHUMAN
JESSICA HERBERT
JULIA PRATT
LEELA RAY BARLOW
LAUREN ECKHARDT
RACHEL GURARIE
MIA JEFFERY
TAYLOR LI