Lauren Y. Atlas

Lauren Y. Atlas is a renowned psychologist and neuroscientist specializing in the field of psychophysiology and neuroimaging. She is best known for her research on how expectations and emotions influence pain, stress, and health outcomes.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Lauren Y. Atlas was born and raised in United States. She completed her undergraduate studies in psychology at University of Pennsylvania, where she developed a keen interest in the human mind and behavior. She then pursued her Ph.D. in psychology and neuroscience from Columbia University, where she focused on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying pain and emotion.

Career[edit | edit source]

After completing her Ph.D., Atlas joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a postdoctoral fellow. She currently serves as the Chief of the Section on Affective Neuroscience and Pain in the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) at NIH. Her research primarily focuses on the role of cognition and emotion in shaping the subjective experience of acute and chronic pain.

Research[edit | edit source]

Atlas's research involves the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the brain mechanisms that underlie pain and emotion. She has made significant contributions to the understanding of how expectations, emotions, and social factors influence pain perception and health outcomes. Her work has implications for the treatment of chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Publications[edit | edit source]

Atlas has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Some of her notable publications include "Pain anticipation: an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies" and "A meta-analysis of brain mechanisms of placebo analgesia: consistent findings and unanswered questions".

Awards and Recognition[edit | edit source]

In recognition of her contributions to the field of psychophysiology and neuroimaging, Atlas has received several awards, including the NIH Director's Award for Scientific Achievement.