{"id":178,"date":"2025-10-24T10:33:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T17:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mesolab\/?page_id=178"},"modified":"2026-01-08T20:51:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T04:51:58","slug":"publications","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mesolab\/publications\/","title":{"rendered":"Publications"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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\n Representative Publications\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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\n \n \n A Shared Mechanism Across Youth Symptoms\n\n <\/a>\n <\/h3>\n \n \n
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In this study, we linked youth’s inhibitory control (their ability to stop a behavior to achieve a task goal) to efficiency of a specific brain network. Further, we found that difficulties in inhibitory control were a shared feature across multiple clinical problems (anxiety, irritability, and ADHD).<\/p>\n

Cardinale et al. (2024), Psychological Science<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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\n \n \n Distinct Brain Mechanisms of Irritability and Anxiety\n\n <\/a>\n <\/h3>\n \n \n
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Symptoms of anxiety and irritability often go hand-in-hand in youth. Here, we used statistical tools to distinguish these symptoms. Our findings revealed that despite their co-occurrence, irritability and anxiety were characterized by unique patterns of activity and connectivity throughout the brain.<\/p>\n

Kircanski et al. (2018), JAMA Psychiatry<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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\n \n \n Naming Fears to Confront Them\n\n <\/a>\n <\/h3>\n \n \n
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In this lab-based experiment, we harnessed insight from brain science and applied it to exposure therapy for fears and phobias. We found that affect labeling (putting one’s feelings into words) during exposure to a spider helped decrease participants’ physical fear responses. Benefits of affect labeling have now been replicated across other fears.<\/p>\n

Kircanski et al. (2012), Psychological Science<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Kircanski’s h-index = 41
\n* indicates trainee whom Dr. Kircanski mentored closely on this publication
\n\u2020 indicates equal contribution<\/em><\/p>\n