Brain Areas Associated with Empathy: Stevens, F. L., & Taber, K. H. (2021). The Neuroscience of Empathy and Compassion in Pro-Social Behavior. Neuropsychologia, 107925.

Research

Dr. Stevens examines how affect, which includes emotions and feelings, influences our behavior and thinking based on the neuroscience of the brain. More specifically at the role of these affective processes in the etiology and treatment of psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder.

Cingulate cortex connections: Stevens, F. L., & Taber, K. H. & Hurley, R. A.(2016). Anterior Cingulate Cortex: Unique Role in Cognition and Emotion. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 23(2), 121-125.

Dr. Stevens is particularly interested in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and its function in awareness and repression of emotion. This is particularly important in treating mental health issues as most mental health disorders show difficulty in recognizing or/and coping with emotion.

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Publications

Stevens, F. L. (2023). Revisiting the Cognitive Primacy Hypothesis: Implications for Psychotherapy. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration.

Stevens, F. L. (2022). Emotion-Based Interventions for Clinicians. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 52(4), 329-336.

Stevens, F. L. & Shriver E. R. (2022). The Shame of Implicit Racism. The Journal of Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2022.2046538.

Stevens, F. L. & Taber K. H. (2021). The Neuroscience of Empathy and Compassion in Pro-Social Behavior. Neuropsychologia, 107925.

Barry, D., Nordberg, S., & Stevens, F. L. (2020). Termination in Integrated Primary Care Behavioral Health. Psychotherapy. 57(4), 521-530. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000299

Stevens, F. L. (2018). Affect Regulation and Affect Reconsolidation as Organizing Principles in Psychotherapy. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration. 29(3), 277- 290.https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000130

Stevens, F. L. & Abernethy, A. D. (2018). Neuroscience and Racism: The Power of Groups for Overcoming Implicit Bias. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy. 68 (4), 561-584 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207284.2017.1315583

Stevens, F. L. (2017). Attachment, authenticity, and emotional awareness: Authenticity as mediator in the relationship between attachment and emotional awareness. Counselling Psychology Quarterly. 10(4), 392-414.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2016.1176010

Stevens, F. L. (2016). The Anterior cingulate cortex in psychopathology and psychotherapy: Effects on awareness and repression of affect. Neuropsychoanalysis. 18(1), 53-68. https://doi.org/10.1080/15294145.2016.1149777

Stevens, F. L. (2014). Affect regulation styles in avoidant and anxious attachment. Individual Differences Research. 12, 123-130.

Stevens, F. L. Wiesman, O., Feldman, R., Hurley, R. A., Taber, K. H. (2013). Oxytocin and behavior: Evidence for effects in the brain. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 23, 96-102.

Stevens, F. L., Taber, K. & Hurley, R. (2011). Anterior cingulate cortex: Unique role in cognition and emotion. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 23, 121-125.

Bailey, R. K., Blackmon, H. L., & Stevens, F. L. (2009). Major depressive disorder in the African American population: meeting the challenges of stigma, misdiagnosis, and treatment disparities. Journal of the National Medical Association, 101, 1084-1089.

For a full list of publications click here.