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Affective experiences, such as emotions, stress, pain, and mood, are an important, integral, and ubiquitous part of daily life.

The Affective Science and Psychophysiology Lab aims to understand these affective processes, ways to regulate them, and their impact on psychological and physical health.

Recent News & Publications

  • New paper exploring intervention stigma as a barrier to open-label placebo adoption

    We found that belief in and responsiveness to open-label placebos (OLPs), or placebos given without deception, are associated with certain negative social perceptions. Patients who believed in or responded to OLPs were perceived as less competent but more warm, reflecting a form of intervention stigma. This stigma may discourage patients from using or disclosing OLP treatments. These findings suggest that social perceptions may present a barrier to the broader adoption of OLPs, despite their demonstrated effectiveness.

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  • Scientists observe surprising link between mindset and vaccine outcomes

    PsyPost, April 2025

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  • Non-deceptive placebo pills reduce stress, anxiety, and depression—even remotely administered

    PsyPost, January 2025

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  • Dr. Guevarra is accepting graduate students for the 2024-2025 cycle

    Dr. Darwin Guevarra is reviewing graduate student applications for the 2024-2025 application cycle. Click the button below for details about what he looks for in a graduate student. If you have any questions, please feel free to email him at guevarda@miamioh.edu.

    View Grad Apps

  • New paper testing remotely administered non-deceptive placebos regulating distress

    We found that non-deceptive placebos administered remotely reduced stress, anxiety, and depression in people experiencing prolonged stress from the COVID-19 pandemic. Over two weeks, participants reported improvements in mental health, highlighting the feasibility and effectiveness of this low-effort intervention.

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  • New paper examining the relationship between vaccine-related mindsets and post-vaccination response

    We found that vaccine mindsets are linked to less stress and sadness and more happiness. Positive vaccine, efficacy, and body-response mindset are linked to fewer side effects. Vaccine side effects mindset are associated with better immune response. These findings suggest that fostering positive vaccine mindsets not only enhances the vaccination experience but potentially boosts immune responses.

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  • New chapter reviewing how to use placebo effects in emotion regulation

    We provide a review on how placebo effects, both traditional and non-deceptive, can be used in emotion regulation. We discuss placebo effects and their mechanisms. We then review evidence of placebos regulating emotions. We discuss the ethical dilemma in using placebos to regulate emotions and highlight work on placebos without deception. Lastly, we discuss basic science and translational application questions and suggest directions for future research.

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  • How your mindset could affect your response to vaccines

    Stanford Report, August 2024

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  • MSU study finds placebos reduce stress, anxiety and depression

    MSU Today, Aug 2024

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  • Can Little Steps Lead to Big Joy?

    Greater Good Magazine, Nov 2023

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