About

Who We Are

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The Behavioral Health Research Lab, run by Dr. Kasey Creswell at Carnegie Mellon University, is broadly interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying the development and maintenance of addiction, as well as identifying those who may be particularly vulnerable to addiction. More specifically, our research focuses on uncovering basic affective and cognitive mechanisms of cigarette craving and alcohol use and emphasizes the importance of psychological, social, and biological factors in the etiology and maintenance of alcohol and tobacco use disorders.

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Our Methods

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We use experimental methodologies, including in vivo smoking cue exposure paradigms and alcohol administration protocols, which allow for precise observations of social and emotional processing under conditions modeling real-world contexts that challenge successful self-regulation (e.g., while participants are intoxicated or experiencing strong cravings). We also use longitudinal designs with large clinical samples to specify the mechanisms by which individuals fail to self-regulate and to identify individuals at risk to develop addiction.

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Our Impact

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This information not only can inform the prevention and treatment of addictive disorders, but it also offers insights into basic aspects of human emotion and social functioning.