Psychology Faculty Profiles
Robin Nusslock, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Clinical Psychology; Brain, Behavior, & Cognition
Office: Swift 301
Phone: 847-467-4148
E-mail: nusslock@northwestern.edu
Research Interests
My research focus is the development and examination of integrative biopsychosocial models of depression and bipolar disorder. Research in my laboratory is particularly focused on examining abnormalities in reward-processing and reward-related brain function in mood disorders. We propose that understanding commonalities and distinctions in reward-related brain activity between depression and bipolar disorder can inform our understanding of the etiology of mood disorders and facilitate diagnosis and treatment development. I take a multi-modal perspective to my research, incorporating psychosocial indices, electroencephalographic (EEG), event-related potentials (ERP), and fMRI.
Selected Publications
Chase, H., Nusslock, R., Almeida, J.R.C., Forbes, E.E., LaBarbara, E.J., Phillips, M.L. (under review). Dissociable patterns of abnormal ventral prefrontal cortical activity during reward and outcome expectancy in bipolar versus major depression.
Salomons, T.V., Nusslock, R., Detloff, Al., Johnstone, T., Abramson, L.Y., & Davidson, R.J. (under review). Emotion regulation circuitry mediates anxiolytic effects of perceived control over pain.
Nusslock, R., Harmon-Jones, E., Alloy, L.B., Urosevic, S., Goldstein, K.E, & Abramson, L.Y. (2012). Elevated left-frontal cortical activity prospectively predicts conversion to bipolar I disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 121, 592-601.
Nusslock, R., Almeida, J.R.C., Forbes, E.E., Versace, A., Frank, E., LaBarbara, E.J., Klein, C., & Phillips, M.L. (2012). Waiting to win: Elevated striatal and orbitofrontal cortical activity during reward anticipation in euthymic bipolar adults. Bipolar Disorders, 14, 249-260.
Nusslock, R., Shackman, A.J., Coan, J.A., Harmon-Jones, E., Alloy, L.B., & Abramson, L.Y. (2011). Cognitive Vulnerability and Frontal Brain Asymmetry: Common Predictors of First Prospective Depressive Episode. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 120, 497-503.
Nusslock, R., Abramson, L.Y., Harmon-Jones, E., Alloy, L.B. & Coan, J.A. (2009). Psychosocial interventions for bipolar disorder: Perspective from the behavioral approach system (BAS) dysregulation theory. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 16, 449-469.
Harmon-Jones, E., Abramson, L.Y., Nusslock, R., Sigleman, J.D., Urosevic, S., Turonie, L., Alloy, L.B., & Fearn, M. (2008). Effect of bipolar disorder on left frontal cortical responses to goals differing in valence and task difficulty. Biological Psychiatry, 63, 693-698.
Nusslock, R., Abramson, L.Y., Harmon-Jones, E., Alloy, L.B. & Hogan, M.E. (2007). The effect of a goal striving life event and the onset of bipolar episodes: Perspective from the behavioral approach system dysregulation theory. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 116, 105-115.
