FPR: Topical Focus

Our program and funding criteria are based on a 3-year topical focus.

First Topical Focus (2000-2003):

The cultural, neurobiological, and mental health determinants and consequences of posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety disorders.

Second Topical Focus (2004-2006):

Trauma and the Interaction of Early Relational Experiences, Social Context, and Developmental Trajectories

Third Topical Focus (2006-2009):

Culture, Brain, and Emotion.

Current Topical Focus (2009-2012):

Culture, Brain, and Mental Illness.


Examples of Possible Future Research Foci:

  • Neuralization of social experience.
  • Political, cultural and neurobiological effects of poverty.
  • Subjective experience and consciousness.
  • Cultural perspectives on neuropsychiatric disorders.
  • Neurotransmitter systems and their relation to culture, mental illness, deviancy and normality.

There are international symposia at the end of three-year topical cycles, bringing together grantees of the Foundation, scholars and the general public with an interest in the topical focus. Our first symposium on Posttraumatic stress disorder was held in December 2002.

Our second symposium on Childhood was held in February 2005.

Our third symposium on Emotion was held in March 2007.


yellow bullet FUTURE CONFERENCE: October 19-20, 2012

The Fifth FPR-UCLA Interdisciplinary Conference

Culture, Mind, and Brain: Emerging Concepts, Methods, Applications

October 19–20, 2012
Friday-Saturday
at University of California, Los Angeles


green bullet PAST CONFERENCE

The Fourth FPR-UCLA Interdisciplinary Conference

Cultural and Biological Contexts of Psychiatric Disorder: Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment

January 22-24, 2010
Friday-Sunday
at University of California, Los Angeles

Download a conference flyer here

The Third FPR-UCLA Interdisciplinary Conference

2007 Conference Poster Seven Dimensions of Emotion: Integrating Biological, Clinical, and Cultural Perspectives on Fear, Disgust, Love, Grief, Anger, Empathy, and Hope

March 30-April 1, 2007
Friday-Sunday
at University of California, Los Angeles

Download a conference flyer here.

This conference brings together specialists from different fields to discuss the implications of recent advances in emotion research in neurobiology, psychology, history, philosophy, and anthropology. It will particularly focus on seven emotions -- fear, disgust, love, grief, anger, empathy, and hope -- that are deeply embedded in human social life and cultural environments. Each of the emotion-themes will be illustrated by a case study drawn from laboratory experiments, neuroimaging studies, clinical case presentations, or fieldwork ethnography. The case study will serve as the basis of discussion by an interdisciplinary panel of leading researchers and scholars, with the goal of mapping biological research onto cultural realities (and vice versa).

For more information: http://www.thefpr.org/conference2007


2005 Conference Poster

The Second FPR-UCLA Interdisciplinary Conference

Four Dimensions of Childhood: Brain, Mind, Culture, and Time

February 11-13, 2005
Friday-Sunday
at University of California, Los Angeles

Presented by the Foundation for Psychocultural Research (FPR) and UCLA Graduate Division

Sponsored by UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute in cooperation with the FPR and UCLA

With the support of National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)


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