Rebecca M Todd

Dr. Rebecca Todd’s research program focuses on neurocognitive processes underlying the interaction between human emotion and cognition in health and in psychopathology. It employs brain imaging methods and laboratory experiments to investigate how we process the affective salience, or emotional/motivational importance, of objects and events around us, and how such affective salience influences what we see, how we learn, and what we remember. It also focuses on individual differences in how we filter the world so that we are more likely to perceive specific categories of salient event (e.g., threatening vs. rewarding), and how such filters develop over time and influence behaviour, with major consequences for emotional health and wellbeing.

Todd’s specific programs of research include investigation of neural processes underlying effects of trauma on attention and on patterns of avoidance linked to depression, as well as attentional patterns that predict treatment outcomes. In addition to being an MSFHR Scholar, Todd holds a CIHR New Investigator award.

For an up-to-date list of publications by Dr. Todd, please see the MCL website.