These efforts also address neural function and memory, such as
mechanisms employed by the
brain to balance excitatory and
inhibitory activity in neural circuits.
The
brain's
inhibitory systems are essential for controlling the pattern of activity in the cortex, which has important implications for the
mechanisms of cortical operation, according to a Yale School of Medicine study in Neuron.
Dr. Elias and the OCAR primarily focus on understanding why ERP works (e.g., fear tolerance versus fear habituation; the roles of guilt, willingness, and acceptance; patterns of
brain activation during exposure; functional connectivity among
brain regions), tailoring treatment to the individual (e.g., elucidation of predictors of response and their underlying processes /
mechanisms and neural correlates; rigorous diagnostic characterization of obsessive compulsive related disorders), and evaluating innovative treatments and augmentation strategies (e.g., acceptance and commitment therapy; optimization of
inhibitory learning; pharmacological augmentation).