I am broadly interested in the topic of adaptive forgetting of unwanted emotional memories. In addition to my research interest on memory and forgetting, I have prior experience conducting research on modulating intrusive memories of trauma, social decision-making and mental well-being. I employ a combination of behavioral and neuroimaging methods (e.g. fMRI, EEG) in my research.

My doctoral research is supervised by Prof. Michael Anderson in the Memory Control Lab. My PhD is funded by the Medical Research Council and the Trinity College Henry Barlow Scholarship.

Publications

Varma, M. M., Zeng, S., Singh, L., Holmes, E. A., Huang, J., Chiu, M. H. & Hu, X. (2023). A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental methods for modulating intrusive memories following lab-analogue trauma exposure in non-clinical populations. Nature Human Behaviour, 8(10), 1968-1987, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01956-y.

Varma, M. M., Chowdhury, A., Yu R. (2023). The road not taken: Common and distinct neural correlates of regret and relief. NeuroImage, 120413, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120413.

Varma, M. M., Zhen, S., Yu R. (2023). Not all discounts are created equal: Regional activity and brain networks in temporal and effort discounting. NeuroImage, 280, 120363, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120363.

Varma, M. M., Yu R. (2023). Commentary: A spontaneous neural replay account for involuntary autobiographical memories and déjà vu experiences. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 46, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X23000109.

Varma, M. M., Chen, D., Lin, X., Aknin, L. B., Hu, X. (2023). Prosocial behavior promotes positive emotion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emotion, 23(2), 538-553, https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001077.

Varma, M. M., & Hu, X. (2022). Prosocial behaviour reduces unwanted intrusions of experimental traumatic memories. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 148, 103998, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2021.103998.

Varma, M. M., Pitliya, R. J., Zbozinek, T. D., Shechner, T., & Barry, T. J. (2021). Brief Training to Modify the Breadth of Attention Influences the Generalisation of Fear. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 45(1), 99-110, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-020-10160-x.