Neuroscience Meets ABA: A Deep Dive into Behavior, Stress, and Self-Regulation

In this interactive, 6-hour workshop, Dr. Megan DeLeon (Miller) expands on the intersection of behavioral neuroscience and applied behavior analysis, providing a hands-on, practice-based experience for behavior analysts seeking to refine their approach to emotional regulation, stress, and behavior.

Traditional ABA frameworks often categorize challenging behaviors by their function (e.g., escape, attention, access, automatic), but recent research suggests a more nuanced perspective—one that acknowledges synthesized functions and the role of physiological states in behavioral responding (Hanley et al., 2014; Rajaraman et al., 2022). Drawing from the work of Delahooke, Shanker, Porges, and Perry, this workshop will explore how stress responses shape behavior and how neuroscience-informed strategies can support more ethical, effective, and neurodiversity-affirming interventions.

Behavior analysts have an ethical obligation to consider and rule out potential medical, physiological, and environmental variables influencing behavior before determining a course of intervention. The nervous system’s response to the world is a critical setting event that affects emotional regulation, engagement, and behavioral responding. Ignoring these influences can lead to misinterpretation of behavior and ineffective intervention. This workshop will provide concrete strategies for integrating behavioral neuroscience into our assessments and intervention planning in a way that is both practical and ethical.

Participants will engage in breakout discussions and guided practice using exclusive materials developed by Dr. DeLeon (Miller) to apply behavioral neuroscience concepts in their work. Through case studies, hands-on exercises, and collaborative problem-solving, attendees will leave with concrete tools to implement inclusive, biologically-informed behavior analytic strategies that go beyond surface-level compliance to truly support emotional and physiological regulation.

*Attendees can attend either or both Live offerings of this workshop and/or access the recording. The recording will be available by April 17th.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the role of stress and physiological regulation in behavior and how it impacts traditional functional assessment frameworks.
2. Identify at least three key neuroscience concepts (e.g., polyvagal theory, self-regulation, neuroception) and describe their relevance to behavior analytic practice.
3. Demonstrate practical application of neuroscience-informed tools and strategies by engaging in hands-on activities and real-world case studies.
4. Utilize Dr. DeLeon (Miller)’s structured materials to incorporate behavioral neuroscience into assessment, intervention, and treatment planning.
5. Critically analyze current behavior analytic approaches and explore how incorporating neuroscience-informed perspectives can enhance ethical, client-centered decision-making.
6. Recognize the ethical responsibility of behavior analysts to consider medical, physiological, and environmental factors—including the nervous system’s response to stress—as part of a comprehensive behavioral assessment.