James A. Coan

Dr. James A. Coan is a distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, where he also serves as Co-Director of College Fellows. A leading figure in the fields of clinical psychology and affective neuroscience, Dr. Coan has made significant contributions to the understanding of emotional regulation, human connection, and the neurobiological foundations of social interaction. Dr. Coan is the founder and Director of the Virginia Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (VANL), where he leads cutting-edge research exploring the neural systems involved in emotion regulation—particularly how social relationships modulate neural and physiological responses to stress. His work is guided by the influential Social Baseline Theory, which he co-developed. This theory posits that human brains are evolutionarily adapted to operate in the context of close social bonds, allowing for shared regulation of emotional and physiological states. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology from the University of Arizona and holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Washington. Early in his career, Dr. Coan worked as a research associate at the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, conducting pioneering studies using fMRI and EEG to understand the emotional and physiological impact of interpersonal relationships. Dr. Coan’s innovative research has garnered national recognition, earning him the Janet Taylor Spence Award for Transformative Early Career Contributions from the Association for Psychological Science and the Distinguished Early Career Contributions to Psychophysiology Award from the Society for Psychophysiological Research. A prolific author, Dr. Coan has published extensively in high-impact scientific journals. His research explores themes including social connection and cardiovascular regulation, emotional processing in anxious individuals, and the default mode network's activity in response to reward and loss, particularly among those with social anxiety. He is committed to translating complex neuroscience into practical applications for mental health and social well-being. Dr. Coan is also recognized for his contributions to education and mentorship at the University of Virginia. Through his role with the College Fellows, he helps shape undergraduate education and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration. He actively trains the next generation of researchers in neuroimaging, emotion theory, and the science of interpersonal behavior. His influence extends beyond academia—his work has implications for mental health treatment, public policy, and our understanding of human resilience in the face of stress. Dr. Coan continues to push the boundaries of how we understand emotion, emphasizing that our emotional well-being is intricately tied to our social lives.