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Cognitive and Affective Neuropsychology Laboratory

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Director wearing a black blouse smiling for the camera

Jean Lengenfelder, PhD
Laboratory Director

Individuals with neurological injuries and illnesses may have difficulties with emotional processing of facial expressions, sarcasm, or jokes, which can then impact their social experiences at home, work, and in relationships. Through our studies, we seek to better understand their difficulties and assess training methods to help them recognize emotions.

 

Areas of Focus

Jean Lengenfelder, PhD, directs the Cognitive and Affective Neuropsychology Laboratory, part of the Center for Traumatic Brain Injury where she is also associate director at Kessler Foundation. Current studies focus on emotional processing, social cognition, mindfulness meditation, and caregiver resilience. The focal point of the Lab’s emotional processing investigation is to deliver treatments that improve emotional processing and deficits in facial emotion recognition among individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), pediatric TBI, and multiple sclerosis. Researchers are also adapting mindfulness intervention methods to help improve control of attention and psychological well-being for individuals with TBI while alleviating depression and anxiety.

 

Current Funding Support

Research is funded by National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) and New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research.