University of Wisconsin-Madison

About Nitschke Lab

The research focus of our laboratory is on the neuroscience of human emotion and affective disorders. One of our primary research goals is to determine the neurobiological substrates of heterogeneity in anxiety and depression. Our studies use clinical and nonclinical samples and primarily focus on fMRI. Other methodologies used in our lab include diffusion tensor imaging, morphometric MRI, DNA sampling, pupillography, electrodermal and cardiovascular measures, as well as EEG, eye-blink startle, neuropsychological tasks, and cortisol. We have developed laboratory-based models of anticipatory and reactivity processes elicited by emotional stimuli. Exploring the power of expectancy has been a major emphasis of our recent and ongoing work. Other major interests of ours are the neural circuits of positive emotion and the placebo effect.