Maria K. Kulesza

Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology | NENCKI

The aim of our research project is to understand and describe how climate change makes us feel and what it means for our mental health and climate action taking. To this end, we will conduct a series of studies using questionnaire and experimental methods. The research will be based on data collected in Poland and Norway, two countries heavily dependent on fossil fuels, but with a different social and individual perception regarding the urgency of climate action. https://climate-change-emotions.org/

The main objectives of the project are to investigate neuronal mechanisms underlying 1) processing of autobiographical memory and 2) the ability to engage in adaptive emotion regulation strategies in borderline personality disorder, major depression and healthy controls, with the use of fMRI paradigms. We want to examine whether any of the two ER strategies (cognitive reappraisal or mindful acceptance) is easier to use by one of the clinical groups. We also want to investigate processing of positive, negative and neutral memories in those three groups.

In the recent years there was an increase in the number of people suffering from the loss of control over sexual behavior (time spent on pornography, masturbation or use of paid sexual services). There is ongoing discussion among therapists and researchers, about how to conceptualize such compulsive sexual behaviors (CSB) and perform efficient psychotherapeutic intervention. The aim of the project is to: 1) identify the key neural mechanisms underlying CSB, and 2.) verify the causal role of identified neural mechanisms for CSB symptoms.