Affective Sciences Emerging: the interdisciplinary study of emotion
Day 2: The Neural Architecture of Emotion, Emotional Disturbance and Pain

An “affective” revolution is currently taking place in many different disciplines. The exclusive emphasis placed on logical inference and rational choice to explain human action is replaced by the investigation of the manifold ways in which affect and emotion shape behavior and decision making.

The Swiss National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) for Affective Sciences and the Collegium Helveticum will meet with local U.S. institutions and companies at swissnex on April 6 & 7 2006 to debate this fascinating topic, present their research and discuss applications and implications with the industry.


Friday, April 7 2006:
The Neural Architecture of Emotion, Emotional Disturbance & Pain

9:00 – 10:30 am: Session 1:
Neural Architecture of Emotion in Perception and Decision-Making
Can we read specific emotions in the brain? How does the human brain process emotional stimuli? What are the neural basis of financial risk-taking and expected value?
Speakers: Dr. Brian Knutson, Stanford University, Dr. David Sander, Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, Dr. Adam Anderson, Psychology, University of Toronto, Dr. Didier Granjean, Swiss Center for Affective Sciences

10:45 am – 12:15 pm: Session 2:
From the Emotional Brain to Psychopathology – Contributions from the Investigation of Depression and Anxiety
How does depression affect the cerebral processing of emotional stimuli? Interaction effects between attention and emotion in the anxious brain?
How can we develop fruitful links between Affective Neuroscience and Psychiatry?
Speakers: Dr. Ian Gotlib, Stanford Mood and Anxiety Disorders Laboratory, Dr. Elizabeth Phelps, Phelps Lab for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dr. Patrik Vuilleumier, Swiss Center for Affective Sciences

12:30 – 2:00 pm: Session 3 (lunch included):
Functional and Dysfunctional Emotional Brain
Scientific, clinical and ethical aspects, diagnostic instruments
Moderator: Dr. Jorge Armony, McGill University
Speakers: all participating experts, including Dr. Klaus Scherer, Dr. Didier Granjean, Dr. David Sander, Dr. Adam Anderson, Dr. Patrik Vuilleumier, Dr. Gerd Folkers, Dr. Naomi Eisenberger, Dr. Stacy Marsella etc.

2:15 – 3:45 pm: Session 4:
Behavioral and Neural Correlates of Pain
What are the behavioral manifestations and neural underpinnings of emotional response to pain? How can we explain the gender differences in pain processing?
Speakers: Gerd Folkers, Chair, Collegium Helveticum, Dr. Naomi Eisenberger, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology University of California, Los Angeles

4:00 – 5:30 pm: Session 5:
General Discussion on the perspectives for the NCCR Affective Sciences and the Collegium Helveticum
Challenges, necessities and achievements in practicing interdisciplinarity
Moderated by Dr. Gerd Folkers & Dr. Klaus Scherer
Speakers: all participating experts, including Dr. Klaus Scherer, Dr. Didier Granjean, Dr. David Sander, Dr. Adam Anderson, Dr. Patrik Vuilleumier, Dr. Gerd Folkers, Dr. Naomi Eisenberger, Dr. Stacy Marsella etc…

…please join us for the evening program & cocktail reception!

This event is free: please register indicating which session(s) you will attend. To register for the evening programs or for Day 1: Virtual Emotions in Human-Computer Interfaces, please click here. We apologize for the inconvenience.