Karin Roelofs

Karin Roelofs is an expert on stress and stress-related behaviour. She studies psychological and neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying social-motivational and stress-related behaviours. How do people make decisions when they are under stress? How do people regulate their emotions and what can help them if they have trouble doing so? These are questions that Roelofs studies in the lab using brain-imaging techniques, neural stimulation and hormone interventions. She has helped to shift the focus in her field from vulnerability and psychopathology to resilience and recovery capacity. Her research holds great promise for the early detection and treatment of affective disorders, and for counselling people with stressful occupations. For example, she is coordinating major studies into resilience in police officers.