Amsterdam Emotion Regulation Lab

Based at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Department of Clinical, Neuro- & Developmental Psychology

Our areas of study include:

Interpersonal Synchrony

Interpersonal synchrony is the natural alignment of movements and physiological responses during interactions, especially among those with close psychological ties. This synchronization deepens connections by enhancing feelings of closeness and mutual understanding.

 

Emotional Coregulation

Emotional coregulation involves partners synchronizing and managing their emotional responses together. Through a balance of shared emotions and mutual regulation, they create a stable emotional environment that fosters connection and support.

Psychologically Informed AI

Psychologically informed AI, or "bonding bots," are designed to meet human needs for connection by mirroring human bonding behaviors. These AI systems offer unbiased empathy and support, fostering meaningful relationships that promote personal growth, especially for marginalized individuals.

Uniting People and Technology Through Emotional Understanding.

Our lab is at the forefront of integrating psychological science with artificial intelligence, developing ‘bonding bots’ that can interact with humans in emotionally intelligent ways. We explore how these advancements can transform human-technology relationships and contribute to scalable solutions in coaching, therapy, and social support.

Emobdied Virtual Agents

Visualizing bonding bots

Realistic embodied avatars are crucial for creating meaningful human-AI interactions because they bridge the gap between digital and human experiences. By mirroring human traits, personalities, and behaviors, these avatars enhance the bonding process, making AI interactions feel more natural and emotionally engaging.

We work in in collaboration with…

In collaboration with the Computer Science department at Vrije University and colleagues at Radboud and Tilburg Universities, our lab advances research on AI and emotional interaction. We also participate in the Caring Universities project, which offers students free online mental health resources through the MoodLift platform.