Directory

Florin Dolcos's directory photo.

Florin Dolcos

Professor

Primary Affiliation

Mechanisms of Cognitive Control

Affiliations

Status Full-time Faculty

Home Department of Psychology

Phone 244-4120

Email fdolcos@illinois.edu

Address 2157 Beckman Institute, 405 North Mathews Avenue

  • Biography

    Florin Dolcos is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and a full-time faculty member in the Beckman Institute’s Cognitive Neuroscience Group. His research investigates the neural correlates of emotion-cognition interactions in healthy and clinical populations. Dr. Dolcos performed his PhD research in cognitive and affective neurosciences at the University of Alberta’s Centre for Neuroscience and Duke University’s Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, and his post-doctoral training in cognitive, affective, and clinical neurosciences at Duke University’s Brain Imaging and Analysis Center. Dr. Dolcos joined the University of Illinois following an Assistant Professor appointment in the University of Alberta’s Department of Psychiatry.

  • Honors

    Dr. Dolcos received a NSERC Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (2006), the Laird Cermak Award for Early Contributions to Memory Research from the Memory Disorders Research Society (2006), a Young Investigator Award from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (2007), and a CPRF Award from the Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation (2008).

  • Research

    Florin Dolcos’ research interests concern the neural correlates of affective-cognitive interactions in healthy and clinical populations, as studied with brain imaging techniques (e.g., fMRI and ERP). Florin Dolcos’ program can be divided into the following two main directions:

    1. Basic research investigating the neural mechanisms underlying the impact of emotion on cognition in healthy participants. This direction focuses on identifying the mechanisms that are common to both the enhancing and the impairing effects of emotion on cognitive functions (e.g., enhanced memory for emotional events and enhanced susceptibility to emotional distraction, respectively), and on identifying the mechanisms that dissociate these two opposing effects of emotion on cognition.

    2. Translational research investigating the role of individual differences in mediating the emotion-cognition interactions. This direction focuses on identifying the neural circuitry responsible for differential ability to experience, remember, and regulate emotions associated with age-, gender-, and personality-related differences, in both healthy and clinical cohorts.

    Dr. Dolcos’ research group investigates these issues using brain imaging methods (fMRI, ERP) in conjunction with other psychophysiological (electrodermal responses) and behavioral assessments (performance in cognitive and neuropsychological tasks, personality questionnaires).

    Investigation of these issues has direct implications for understanding the neural correlates of affective dysregulation observed in mood and anxiety disorders, which are characterized by pathological biases in processing negative emotions, intrusive recollection of distressing events, and increased emotional distractibility.

  • 2014

    • Carpenter-Thompson, J. R.; Akrofi, K.; Schmidt, S. A.; Dolcos, F.; Husain, F. T., Alterations of the Emotional Processing System May Underlie Preserved Rapid Reaction Time in Tinnitus. Brain Research 2014, 1567, 28-41, DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.04.024.
    • Shafer, A. T.; Dolcos, F., Dissociating Retrieval Success from Incidental Encoing Activity During Emotional Memory Retrieval, in the Medial Temporal Lobe. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 2014, 8, 15, DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00177.

    2013

    • Chiu, Y.-C.; Dolcos, S.; Gonsalves, B. D.; Cohen, N. J., On Opposing Effects of Emotion on Contextual or Relational Memory. Frontiers in Psychology 2013, 4, 103.
    • Denkova, E.; Dolcos, S.; Dolcos, F., The Effect of Retrieval Focus and Emotional Valence on the Inferior Frontal Cortex Activity During Autobiographical Recollection. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 2013, 7, 8, DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00192.
    • Dolcos, F., Linking Enhancing and Impairing Effects of Emotion – the Case of PTSD. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience 2013, 7, 26.
    • Dolcos, F.; Iordan, A. D.; Kragel, J.; Stokes, J.; Campbell, R.; McCarthy, G.; Cabeza, R., Neural Correlates of Opposing Effects of Emotional Distraction on Working Memory and Episodic Memory: An Event-Related FMRI Investigation. Frontiers in Psychology 2013, 4, 16, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00293.
    • Iordan, A. D.; Dolcos, S.; Denkova, E.; Dolcos, F., Sex Differences in the Response to Emotional Distraction: An Event-Related fMRI Investigation. Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience 2013, 13, (1), 116-134.
    • Iordan, A. D.; Dolcos, S.; Dolcos, F., Neural Signatures of the Response to Emotional Distraction: A Review of Evidence from Brain Imaging Investigations. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2013, 7, 21, DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00200.
    • Llewellyn, N.; Dolcos, S.; Jordan, A. D.; Rudolph, K. D.; Dolcos, F., Reappraisal and Suppression Mediate the Contribution of Regulatory Focus to Anxiety in Healthy Adults. Emotion 2013, 13, (4), 610-615, DOI: 10.1037/a0032568.

    2012

    • Brown, M. R. G.; Lebel, R. M.; Dolcos, F., Effects of Emotional Context on Impulse Control. Neuroimage 2012, 63, 434-446.
    • Denkova, E.; Dolcos, S.; Dolcos, F., Reliving Emotional Personal Memories: Affective Biases Linked to Personality and Sex-Related Differences. Emotion 2012, 12, (3), 515-528.
    • Dolcos, F.; Denkova, E.; Dolcos, S., Neural Correlates of Emotional Memories: A Review of Evidence from Brain Imaging Studies. Psychologia 2012, 55, (2), 80-111.
    • Dolcos, S.; Sung, K.; Argo, J. J.; Flor-Henry, S.; Dolcos, F., The Power of a Handshake: Neural Correlates of Evaluative Judgments in Observed Social Interactions. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 2012, 24, (12), 2292-2305.
    • Shafer, A. T.; Dolcos, F., Neural Correlates of Opposing Effects of Emotional Distraction on Perception and Episodic Memory: An Event-Related fMRI Investigation. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience 2012, DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2012.00070.
    • Shafer, A. T.; Matveychuk, D.; Penney, T.; O'Hare, A. J.; Stokes, J.; Dolcos, F., Processing of Emotional Distraction Is Both Automatic and Modulated by Attention: Evidence from an Event-Related FMRI Investigation. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 2012, 24, (5), 1233-1252.
    • Singhal, A.; Shafer, A. T.; Russell, M.; Gibson, B.; Wang, L. H.; Vohra, S.; Dolcos, F., Electrophysiological Correlates of Fearful and Sad Distraction on Target Processing in Adolescents with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Symptoms and Affective Disorders. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience 2012, 6, 119
    • Wang, L. H.; Potter, G. G.; Krishnan, R. K. R.; Dolcos, F.; Smith, G. S.; Steffens, D. C., Neural Correlates Associated with Cognitive Decline in Late-Life Depression. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2012, 20, (8), 653-663.

    2011

    • Denkova, E.; Chakrabarty, T.; Dolcos, S.; Dolcos, F., Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection. Journal of Visualized Experiments 2011, 54, DOI: 10.3791/2396.
    • Dolcos, F.; Iordan, A. D.; Dolcos, S., Neural Correlates of Emotion-Cognition Interactions: A Review of Evidence from Brain Imaging Investigations. Journal of Cognitive Psychology 2011, 23, (6), 669-694.
    • Dolcos, S.; Sung, K.; Denkova, E.; Dixon, R. A.; Dolcos, F., Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotion Regulation. Journal of Visualized Experiments 2011, 54, DOI: 10.3791/2430.
    • Hayes, J. P.; LaBar, K. S.; McCarthy, G.; Selgrade, E.; Nasser, J.; Dolcos, F.; Morey, R. A., Reduced Hippocampal and Amygdala Activity Predicts Memory Distortions for Trauma Reminders in Combat-Related PTSD. Journal of Psychiatric Research 2011, 45, (5), 660-669.
    • Morey, R. A.; Hariri, A. R.; Gold, A. L.; Hauser, M. A.; Munger, H. J.; Dolcos, F.; McCarthy, G., Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphisms and Brain Function during Emotional Distraction from Cognitive Processing in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. BioMed Central - Psychiatry 2011, 11, (76), http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/11/76.
    • Ritchey, M.; Dolcos, F.; Eddington, K. M.; Strauman, T. J.; Cabeza, R., Neural Correlates of Emotional Processing in Depression: Changes with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Predictors of Treatment Response. Journal of Psychiatric Research 2011, 45, (5), 557-587.
    • Shafer, A.; Iordan, A.; Cabeza, R.; Dolcos, F., Brain Imaging Investigation of the Memory-Enhancing Effect of Emotion. Journal of Visualized Experiments 2011, 51, doi: 10.3791/2433.
    • Sung, K.; Dolcos, S.; Flor-Henry, S.; Zhou, C.; Gasior, C.; Argo, J.; Dolcos, F., Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Observing Virtual Social Interactions. Journal of Visualized Experiments 2011, 53, DOI: 10.3791/2379.
    • Wong, G.; Dolcos, S.; Denkova, E.; Morey, R.; Wang, L.; McCarthy, G.; Dolcos, F., Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition. Journal of Visualized Experiments 2011, 60, DOI: 10.3791/2434.

    2010

    • *St. Jacques, P.L., *Dolcos, F., & Cabeza, R. (2010). Effects of aging on functional connectivity of the amgydala during negative evaluation: A network analysis of fMRI data. Neurobiology of Aging, 31, 315-327.
    • Chuah, L.Y.M., Dolcos, F., Chen, A.K., Zheng. H., Parimal, S., Chee, M.W.L (2010). Sleep deprivation and interference by emotional distracters. SLEEP, 33(10):1305-1313.
    • Pannu Hayes, J., LaBar, K.S., McCarthy, G., Selgrade, E., Nasser, J., Dolcos, F., VISN 6 Mid-Atlantic MIRECC workgroup, & Morey, R.A (2010). Reduced hippocampal and amygdala activity predicts memory distortions for trauma reminders in combat-related PTSD. Journal of Psychiatric Research (in press).
    • *Ritchey, M., *Dolcos, F., Eddington, K.M., Strauman, T.J., Cabeza, R. (2010). Neural correlates of emotional processing in depression: Changes with cognitive behavioral therapy and predictors of treatment response. Journal of Psychiatric Research (in press).
    • Denkova, E.; Wong, G.; Dolcos, S.; Sung, K.; Wang, L. H.; Coupland, N.; Dolcos, F., The Impact of Anxiety-Inducing Distraction on Cognitive Performance: A Combined Brain Imaging and Personality Investigation. PLOS One 2010, 5, (11), e14150; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0014150. 
    • Pannu Hayes, J.; LaBar, K. S.; McCarthy, G.; Selgrade, E.; Nasser, J.; Dolcos, F., VISN 6 Mid-Atlantic MIRECC workgroup, & Morey, R.A (2010). Reduced Hippocampal and Amygdala Activity Predicts Memory Distortions for Trauma Reminders in Combat-Related PTSD. Journal of Psychiatric Research 2010, 45, (5), 660-660.
    • Shafer, A.; Iordan, A.; Cabeza, R.; Dolcos, F., Brain Imaging Investigation of the Memory-Enhancing Effect of Emotion. Journal of Visualized Experiments 2010, 51, doi: 10.3791/2433.

    2009

    • *St. Jacques, P.L., *Dolcos, F., & Cabeza, R. (2009). Effects of aging on functional connectivity of the amygdala for subsequent memory of negative pictures: A network analysis of fMRI data. Psychological Science, 20(1), 74-84.
    • Dolcos, F. (2009). The Impact of Emotion on Memory: Evidence from Brain Imaging Studies. VDM Verlag Book (ISBN: 3639188659); 160 pages.
    • Morey, R.A., Dolcos, F., Petty, C.M., Cooper, D.A., Pannu Hayes, J., LaBar, K.S, McCarthy, G. (2009). The role of trauma related distractors on neural systems for working memory and emotion processing in posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 43, 809–817.
    • Eddington, K. M., Dolcos, F., Noll McLean, A., Krishnan, K.R., Cabeza, R., Strauman, T.J. (2009). Neural correlates of idiographic goal priming in depression: Goal-specific dysfunctions in the orbitofrontal cortex. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 4(3): 238–246.

    2008

    • Dolcos, F., Denkova (Ninova), E. (2008). Neural correlates of encoding emotional memories: Functional Neuroimaging Evidence. Cell Science Reviews, 5(2), 78-122.
    • Dolcos, F., Diaz-Granados P., Wang, L., & McCarthy, G. (2008). Opposing influences of emotional and non-emotional distracters upon sustained prefrontal cortex activity during a delayed-response working memory task. Neuropsychologia, 46, 326–335.
    • Ritchey, M., Dolcos, F., & Cabeza, R. (2008). Role of amygdala connectivity in the persistence of emotional memories over time: An event-related fMRI investigation. Cerebral Cortex, 18, 2494-2504.
    • Wang L., LaBar K.S., Smoski S., Rosenthal M.Z., Dolcos F., Lynch T.R., Krishnan R.R., & McCarthy G. (2008). Prefrontal mechanisms for executive control over emotional distraction are altered in major depression. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 163, 143-155.
    • Wang, L., Krishan, R.R., Steffens, D.C., Potter, G., Dolcos, F., & McCarthy, G. (2008). Depressive state- and disease-related alterations in neural responses to affective and executive challenges in geriatric depression. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 165, 863-871.

    2007

    • Dolcos, F., Miller, B., Jha, A., & McCarthy, G. (2007). Regional brain differences in the effect of distraction during a delay interval of a working memory task. Brain Research, 1152, 171-181.
    • Eddington, K.M., Dolcos, F., Cabeza, R., Strauman, T.J. (2007). Neural correlates of promotion and prevention goal activation: An fMRI study using an idiographic approach. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 19(7), 1152-1162.

    2006

    • Dolcos F., LaBar K.S., Cabeza R. (2006). The Memory-Enhancing Effect of Emotion: Functional Neuroimaging Evidence. Book Chapter in Memory and Emotion: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (Uttl B, Ohta N, Siegenthaler AL, Eds): Blackwell Publishing, 107-133.
    • Dolcos, F., Kragel, P., Wang, L., McCarthy, G. (2006). Role of the inferior frontal cortex in coping with distracting emotions. NeuroReport, 17(15), 1591-1594.
    • Dolcos, F., McCarthy, G. (2006). Brain systems mediating cognitive interference by emotional distraction. The Journal of Neuroscience, 26(7), 2072-2079.

    2005

    • Dolcos, F., LaBar, K.S., & Cabeza, R. (2005). Remembering one year later: Role of the amygdala and the medial temporal lobe memory system during retrieval of emotional memories. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 102(7), 2626-2631.

    2004

    • Cabeza, R., Daselaar, S.M., Dolcos, F., Prince, S.E., Budde, M., & Nyberg, L (2004). Task-independent vs. task-specific age effects on brain activity during working memory, visual attention, and episodic retrieval. Cerebral Cortex, 14, 364-375.
    • Cabeza, R., Prince, S.E., Daselaar, S.M., Greenberg, D.L., Budde, M., Dolcos, F., LaBar, K.S., Rubin, D.C. (2004). Brain activity during episodic retrieval of autobiographical and laboratory events: An fMRI study using a novel photo paradigm. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 16(9), 1583-94.
    • Dolcos, F., LaBar, K., & Cabeza, R. (2004). Interaction between the amygdala and the medial temporal lobe memory system predicts better memory for emotional events. Neuron, 42, 855-863.
    • Dolcos, F., LaBar, K.S., & Cabeza, R. (2004). Dissociable effects of arousal and valence on prefrontal activity indexing emotional evaluation and subsequent memory: An event-related fMRI study. NeuroImage, 23, 64-74.

    2003

    • Cabeza, R., Dolcos, F., Prince, S. E., Rice, H. J., Weissman, D., & Nyberg, L. (2003). Attention-related activity during episodic memory retrieval: A cross-function fMRI study. Neuropsychologia, 41, 390–399.
    • Dolcos, F., Graham, R., LaBar, K., Cabeza, R. (2003). Coactivation of the amygdala and hippocampus predicts better recall for emotional than for neutral pictures. Brain & Cognition, 51, 221-223.

    2002

    • Cabeza, R., Dolcos, F., Graham, R., Nyberg, L. (2002). Similarities and differences in the neural correlates of episodic memory retrieval and working memory. NeuroImage , 16, 317-330.
    • Dolcos, F., & Cabeza, R. (2002). Event-related potentials of emotional memory: Encoding pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral pictures. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 2(3), 252-263.
    • Dolcos, F., Rice, H. J., Cabeza, R (2002). Hemispheric asymmetries and aging: Right hemisphere decline or asymmetry reduction. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. (Special Issue: Aging Brain and the Aging Cognitive and Sensorimotor Processes), 26, 819–825.