The NDeTeC
Dusana recently formulated a new framework called the Neurodevelopmental Theory of Mental Health and Wellbeing Capacities (NDeTeC) which specifies psychological and neural ‘roots’ of mental health of wellbeing positioned in social contexts. These ‘roots’ are in NDeTeC described in terms of two key mental health and wellbeing capacities: the self-regulation capacity (as a source of effective attention and emotion regulation) and the self-world capacity (as a source of flexible, ethically-grounded and purposeful self-concept). Dusana currently investigates how these capacities develop and how they can be fostered effectively through education.
Contemplative Science
Another area of Dusana’s research focus investigates the mechanisms in the mind and brain modified by contemplative practices (e.g., meditation and prayer) in the context of fostering mental health and wellbeing across the lifespan. She proposed a framework for examining such processes (Dorjee, 2016) and developed a comprehensive measure called the Mechanisms of Contemplative Practice Inventory (MCPI) to investigate such processes. Examining these mechanisms, early studies in the Well Minds Lab pioneered neuroscientific research on mindfulness-based programmes in schools.
Existential Uncertainty
In the context of current global crises, from climate change through political polarisation to wars, Dusana currently investigates possible protective effects of self-regulation and self-world capacities on mental health and wellbeing in the face of existential uncertainty. She also examines how these capacities can contribute to personal leverage points enabling shifts in different domains of society to enable effective solutions to the global crises.