Our lives are filled with various social stressors – such as being evaluated by others or being isolated – and many social interactions occur when individuals are under stress. My research program investigates the neural and behavioral effects of different forms of stress on social functioning, including empathy, social motivation and decision-making and how they are represented in the brain. I study these topics using neuroimaging, behavioral paradigms, endocrinological measures (e.g. cortisol, testosterone) and pharmacological administrations.
Personal website: tomova.scripts.mit.edu
