Publications

Neural network mechanisms of emotional dysregulation in cerebral small vessel disease

Dobrushina Olga R, Dobrynina Larisa A, Arina Galina A, Novikova Evgenia S, Tsypushtanova Mariia M, Makarova Angelina G, Gubanova Mariia V, Trubitsyna Viktoriya V, Kolomoitseva Vlada V, Kazantseva Daria A, Kremneva Elena I, Krotenkova Marina V

Neurobiology of Aging Vol 155, pp. 78-86 (2025)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2025.07.013

Interoceptive training with real-time haptic versus visual heartbeat feedback

Dobrushina Olga, Tamim Yossi, Wald Iddo Yehoshua, Maimon Amber, Amedi Amir

Psychophysiology Vol 61 (2024)

https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.14648

A neural training method with biological feedback in the treatment of cognitive impairments in patients with early cerebral small vessel disease

Dobrynina L A, Novikova E S, Dobrushina O R, Gnedovskaya E V, Korepina O S, Byrochkina A A

Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology Vol 55, pp. 346-352 (2025)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-025-01778-z

Нейротренинг методом биологической обратной связи в коррекции эмоциональных изменений при ранней церебральной микроангиопатии

Novikova ES, Dobrynina LA, Dobrushina OR, Afanasev MA, Volik AV, Gnedovskaya EV, Arina GA, Aristova VV, Kazantseva DA

Nevrologiya, Neiropsikhiatriya, Psikhosomatika Vol 16, pp. 28-35 (2024)

https://doi.org/10.14412/2074-2711-2024-6-28-35

Age-related changes of interoceptive brain networks : implications for interoception and alexithymia

Dobrushina Olga R, Dobrynina Larisa A, Arina Galina A, Pechenkova Ekaterina V, Kremneva Elena I, Gubanova Mariia V, Novikova Evgenia S, Kazantseva Daria A, Suslina Anastasia D, Krotenkova Marina V

Emotion Vol 24, pp. 1536-1549 (2024)

https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001366

Current neuroscientific concepts and psychotherapy : possibilities for integration

Dobrushina O R

Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology Vol 54, pp. 682-690 (2024)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-024-01649-z

More publications

Research Interests

• Embodiment, interoception, arousal regulation, and mental resilience across the lifespan
• Neurodiversity and mental health, with emphasis on digital technology and neurodiversity-affirmative psychotherapy
• Brain health and ageing, including small vessel disease, cognitive decline, and psychosomatic mechanisms
• Functional neuroimaging of interoception, emotion regulation, and brain connectivity
• Translational neurotechnology: biofeedback, neurofeedback, and embodied haptics
• AI for mental health: neurodiversity assessment and support

Professional Activities

Psychological Research as a Career Path (Public Engagement)

Speaker

24/11/2025

Being a good parent for a neurodivergent client: caring for their needs

Speaker

21/11/2025

Brain Imaging and Behavior (Journal)

Peer reviewer

11/2025

Mindfulness (Journal)

Peer reviewer

9/2025

Autistic Interoception, Emotion Regulation, and Mental Health (Public Involvement Workshop)

Contributor

9/2025

Balancing Empathic Confrontation with Validation of Neurobiological Traits in Schema Therapy for Neurodivergent Individuals

Speaker

11/7/2025

More professional activities

Projects

Haptic Biofeedback Technology for Arousal Coregulation (‘Teddy Bear’)

Dobrushina, Olga (Principal Investigator) Delafield-Butt, Jonathan (Co-investigator) Flowers, Paul (Co-investigator)

This project develops and evaluates a soft, sensor-embedded toy, ‘Teddy Bear,’ that provides real-time heartbeat feedback to enhance interoceptive awareness and arousal regulation. Building on a previous proof-of-concept lab study, which demonstrated the efficacy of the core technology in healthy participants (Dobrushina, Tamim, Wald, Maimon, & Amedi, 2024), we transition to a user-friendly, naturalistic transitional object and move towards real-world clinical applications.

05-Jan-2026 - 30-Jan-2026

Smart Game Neurodiversity Assessment for Education: Pilot Implementation Study

Dobrushina, Olga (Principal Investigator) Delafield-Butt, Jonathan (Co-investigator) Robinson, Deborah (Co-investigator)

The human population is neurodiverse, with about 15% of individuals reaching the threshold for ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other diagnoses, and many more presenting with neurodivergent traits. This diversity in perception, attention, and communication styles necessitates flexible educational approaches. When neurodiverse needs remain unrecognised and unaddressed, they can escalate into difficult-to-manage crises of academic performance, school attendance and mental health.

This project introduces an AI-based technology to identify and meet neurodivergent support needs early, delivered through a child-friendly, smart and fun iPad game. The AI algorithms use motor pattern analysis to detect early indicators of neurodivergent development. They have been developed and tested in 2000 children using gold-standard procedures to provide a user-friendly, scalable, and validated technology, but this approach has not yet been tested in real-world settings.

This project will evaluate the feasibility of smart game neurodiversity assessment in UK educational settings, focusing on children aged 2 to 6. By enabling objective assessment in nurseries and schools, the tool aims to support earlier access to tailored educational interventions for the best lifelong outcomes.

01-Jan-2025 - 30-Jan-2026

More projects