I am interested in whether cerebellar interactions with emotional circuits contributes to the expression and development of chronic pain. My current focus manipulates neural networks between the cerebellum and the periaqueductal grey (a hub that co-ordinates defensive behaviours and contributes strongly to the descending pain modulatory system) to affect the expression and experience of fear and pain. There is a high comorbidity between individuals with mood disorders and chronic pain. My latest research investigates whether we can predict an individuals predisposition to the development of chronic pain based on prior ability to extinguish a learned fear response.