Emotions and Social Decisions Lab

We explore how emotions shape decision-making and behavior in both social and individual contexts. Our research delves into the cognitive, neural, and psychological foundations of these processes, bridging the gap between science, applied fields, and public policy.

We employ diverse methods such as computational modeling, self-report measures, behavioral paradigms, electrophysiological responses, eye-tracking, and neuroimaging. To extend our findings beyond the lab, we use mobile devices to capture electrophysiological data during everyday activities. The ESD Lab is based in Viña del Mar, Chile, within the Center of Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN) at the School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez.

Our team works collaboratively with a wide array of experts, including social scientists, policy-makers, military professionals, clinical psychologists, and organizational psychologists, among others. Our key scientific questions include:

What factors facilitate prosocial decision-making?

How does stress influence decision-making and performance in both the lab and real-world settings?

How can insights into the neurobiology of stress and decision-making inform social interventions?

What are the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying stress and decision-making?

How can we enhance psychological well-being in general and specific populations?