Emotional dysregulation (exaggerated or inappropriate emotional response) and inability to cognitively modulate this response, are the hallmarks of Psychiatric disorders like Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Phobia, and Depression. One of the main interests of professor Liberzon’s lab focuses on functional neuroanatomy of emotions of response to stress and trauma, and as it relates to pathophysiology of stress related disorders. They are investigating specific patterns of cognitive-emotional-somatic interaction and the underlying neurocircuitry in healthy controls and psychiatric patients, and the effects of abnormal interactions on emotional regulation and decision making processes.