My research goal is to reverse-engineer the human brain and in particular to elucidate the heuristics that allow us to survive and thrive. I focus on elucidating hedonia (pleasure) and eudaimonia (the life well-lived), and how they are affected in health and disease; in particular seeking to elucidate their breakdown in anhedonia (the lack of pleasure) in neuropsychiatric disorders. Infants are a focus of my research and especially how their cute looks, sounds and smells strongly influence the adult brain. The ERC has been funding our research to better understand the developing parent-infant relationship which may also help to shape the way we can intervene when things go awry, e.g. in sleep deprivation or post-natal depression.