Ben-Zion Resilience & Recovery Lab
School of Public Health | University of Haifa
Investigating the neurobehavioral mechanisms of stress vulnerability and resilience
School of Public Health | University of Haifa
Investigating the neurobehavioral mechanisms of stress vulnerability and resilience
The lab studies resilience and recovery, seeking to understand why some people successfully recover from traumatic events while others develop chronic disorders such as PTSD.
We view resilience as a dynamic process — not a fixed trait — shaped by the interplay of individual factors (biological, psychological, social), environmental context (family, community, institutions), and systemic conditions (policy, culture). Our research integrates neuroscience, psychology, public health, and artificial intelligence.
Our mission is to develop evidence-based tools that can be applied in vulnerable populations, drive intervention development, and contribute to Israeli society's capacity to cope with ongoing security challenges.
Multi-disciplinary research combining neuroscience, psychology, public health, and artificial intelligence
A national-scale ISF-funded research program (2025–2030) investigating resilience and recovery across population, behavioral-physiological, and neuroimaging levels. Examining what distinguishes individuals with high resilience to high-impact events.
Developing safe and innovative tools for emotional discourse between humans and AI systems (e.g., ChatGPT). Studying psychological impacts, emotional attachment risks, and AI behavior in therapeutic contexts.
In collaboration with Prof. Ilan Harpaz-Rotem (Yale), identifying distinct emotional pathways in PTSD: fear-based vs. emotional pain-based (guilt, shame, anhedonia) trajectories. Contributing to personalized, mechanism-targeted treatments.
In collaboration with Prof. Ifat Levy (Yale), investigating how the brain computes value, uncertainty, and reward/punishment anticipation under stress, using advanced fMRI paradigms.
Investigating the therapeutic potential of structured wine-based interventions for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Community-based rehabilitation using service dogs for women with post-traumatic stress disorder following sexual abuse.
Click a card to expand details
Meet the researchers behind our work
Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, University of Haifa. Adjunct Assistant Professor, Yale School of Medicine. Research focuses on stress vulnerability, PTSD, and resilience using neuroimaging, computational psychiatry, and AI.
Full bio & CV
Peer-reviewed publications from our lab
Our research in the news
Israel Hayom on our new study (Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans): agent-enabled LLMs executed harm-enabling actions in 54% of simulated psychiatric crises. (Hebrew)
Israel HayomMako (Nexter) coverage of the same study: GPT-5.2 in agent mode carried out potentially harmful actions in 54% of mental-health-crisis scenarios. (Hebrew)
Mako – NexterRadio interview on new research recreating Milgram's obedience experiment with AI agents — which kept administering simulated shocks despite clear signs of distress. (Hebrew)
Three Who Know – Kan 11Coverage of our Milgram-style study: 79% of AI agents delivered the maximum "shock" even after recognizing the harm. (Hebrew)
CalcalistFeatured in Globes' annual list of Israel's most promising leaders under 40 for 2026.
GlobesPodcast interview on the neuroscience of prolonged trauma, PTSD, and why most people naturally recover. (Hebrew)
הצוללת – Globes PodcastCoverage of research exploring whether AI systems can exhibit drug-like altered states — and what it means for machine consciousness.
IFLScience
Our Biological Psychiatry study finds two distinct PTSD profiles — nearly 70% of survivors rate emotional pain as more disruptive than fear.
Yale School of MedicineA University of Haifa study finds 4 in 5 Israeli teens use chatbots like ChatGPT for emotional support — often without understanding their limits. (Hebrew)
N12Podcast interview on how emotionally engaging chatbots can deepen distress and reinforce harmful thinking. (Hebrew)
One A Day – N12 Podcast
Op-ed on the risks of emotionally responsive AI and the need for mandatory safeguards for chatbots. (Hebrew)
HaaretzCoverage of our research showing AI chatbots exhibit anxiety-like responses to distressing prompts — and that mindfulness techniques can reduce it.
U.S. News & World Report
Coverage of our research showing AI chatbots exhibit anxiety-like behavior when exposed to distressing content.
The New York Times
Researchers teach chatbot mindfulness techniques to reduce anxiety-like behavior in AI systems.
Fortune
Expert commentary on the risks of AI systems designed to emotionally engage users for profit.
TechCrunch
Yale News coverage of our connectome-based prediction research published in JAMA Network Open.
Yale News
NPR Marketplace Tech discusses the implications of our AI anxiety research for mental health applications.
NPR Marketplace
Jerusalem Post coverage of our brain-based prediction model for post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Jerusalem Post
Discussion of the benefits and risks of AI-driven therapy in reducing mental health stigma.
Salon
Haaretz coverage of our neuroimaging research on predicting post-traumatic stress outcomes.
HaaretzRecognition and support for our research
National-scale research program investigating resilience and recovery at population, behavioral-physiological, and neuroimaging levels. Total: ₪3,500,000
Investigating neural computations underlying learning, decision-making, and memory processes. Total: $3,902,151
Research infrastructure for the STRONG research program. Total: ₪2,000,000
Global network of research partners — hover over a point to explore
Legend
Hover over a point to see details.
Click a region button to zoom in.
We are always looking for motivated researchers to join our team
We welcome applications from prospective post-doctoral researchers, PhD students, MSc students, and research assistants who are passionate about understanding stress, resilience, and recovery. Our lab offers a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment with access to advanced neuroimaging facilities, computational tools, and a global network of research partners.
To apply, please send your CV and a brief statement of research interests to:
zbenzion@univ.haifa.ac.ilGet in touch with our lab
First Lab Meeting, November 2025
