Virginia Commonwealth University · PsychologyThe Decision Dynamics Lab
Ann Frances Haynos · Richmond, Virginia
Research Focus
Dr. Ann Frances Haynos's lab at Virginia Commonwealth University focuses on understanding how decision-making processes contribute to psychiatric disorders, specifically anorexia nervosa. Through her research, the lab aims to identify the unique decision dysfunctions that lead to inflexibility in behavior, which can exacerbate conditions like anorexia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. By combining neuroscience with economics, her team seeks to improve treatment precision for these mental health issues.
anorexia nervosadecision-makingneuroeconomicspsychiatric disorderscognitive flexibility
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate decision-making processes in anorexia nervosa
AIM 02Differentiate decision patterns between anorexia and OCD
AIM 03Evaluate the role of cognitive control areas in decision-making
AIM 04Identify treatment targets based on unique decision dysfunctions
AIM 05Examine the impact of rigid behavioral patterns on mental health outcomes
Skills the Lab Values
fMRIecological momentary assessmentbehavioral assessmentneuroeconomic paradigmsdata analysis techniques
Output against the department
Publications114bottom 33% of dept.197th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.0kbottom 29% of dept.210th of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.