We at the Affect Motivation and Action (AMA) lab are fascinated by feelings and motivational states and how they link to our actions. Broadly, we aim to explore intriguing questions such as how people manage to stay motivated and persevere through tedious tasks, even on a gloomy Blue Monday, and why a happy mood can make individuals perceive the world as a safer, more welcoming place.
In our research, we cross traditional borders and draw inspiration from various fields including cognitive neuroscience, social psychology, clinical psychology, affective neuroscience, psychopharmacology, and (digital) humanities. Our ambition is to do robust research rooted in this fertile ground, using all relevant tools available in the toolkit of the cognitive neuroscientist.
On a more playful note, AMA also stands for
Ask Me Anything
—a philosophy that reflects our approach to science. Openness is at the heart of our lab. We strive to make our data and methods open to everyone, maintain a spirit of curiosity, and cultivate an environment where learning never stops. For us, asking questions—and welcoming questions from others—is fundamental to curiosity-driven, basic scientific discovery.
Finally, did you know that “AMA” means “love” in Latin? This meaning resonates deeply with our lab’s ethos. The philosopher Augustine of Hippo once coined the phrase:
AMA ET FAC QUOD VIS
(Love, and do what you like)
We believe this principle captures the essence of meaningful science. In our lab, we foster a culture of individual freedom, creativity, and mutual support—creating a space where kindness and innovation can thrive.