UROP Project

Cognition and Fear Extinction in Anxiety and Cannabis Use (CAFÉ)

psychophysiology, cannabis, anxiety, fear, electroencephalogram
Research Mentor: Mallory Cannon, she/her/hers
Department, College, Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Arts and Sciences
Contact Email: mcannon@psy.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 9, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
  • Day: Wednesday, September 2
    Start Time: 1:00
    End Time: 1:30
    Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/7955355372

Project Description

Cannabis use has become increasingly prevalent in the United States with its increasing legalization, and many individuals report using it to help manage mental health concerns, including symptoms of anxiety. However, researchers still do not fully understand how regular cannabis use affects anxiety and its treatment. This study examines whether chronic cannabis use, the repeated long-term use of cannabis, influences fear learning and fear extinction (i.e., the process by which people learn that situations they once feared are actually safe). Fear extinction is a key mechanism underlying exposure therapy, one of the most effective evidence-based treatments for anxiety disorders. By comparing individuals with anxiety disorders who differ in their cannabis use, this project aims to better understand whether chronic cannabis use is associated with differences in fear discrimination, extinction learning, and retention of extinction over time. Findings from this research may improve our understanding of how cannabis use impacts anxiety treatment and help inform more effective interventions for individuals experiencing both anxiety disorders and regular cannabis use.

Research Tasks: Participant recruitment, data collection, data organization, data analysis

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Attention to detail (required), ability to work well interpersonally with research participants and staff (required), willingness to learn psychophysiological data collection techniques (required)

Mentoring Philosophy

I view mentoring as a collaborative partnership. Every student comes to the lab with different experiences, strengths, and goals, and those goals often change over time. My role is to help students build on their strengths while providing the guidance and opportunities they need to grow. I work to create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas, and learning from mistakes. At the same time, I believe students grow the most when they receive honest, constructive feedback. I celebrate successes, but I also challenge students to improve and take on new responsibilities as they gain confidence and experience. As students become more independent, I encourage them to take ownership of their work while knowing they can always come to me for advice and support. My goal is for every student to leave the lab with stronger research skills, greater self-efficacy, and a clearer sense of their future goals. Whether they pursue graduate school, a healthcare profession, or another career, I hope they leave with the confidence to ask questions, solve problems, and continue learning throughout their lives.

Additional Information


Link to Publications

https://www.thebrainslab.org/
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