About

Our research focuses on the cognitive control processes that are necessary when automatic behaviors are not sufficient to accomplish goals. Humans have the ability to adapt to novel situations and will change from automatic to controlled behaviors in response to new stimuli. This kind of flexible behavior is critical and necessary to function effectively in our everyday lives. Understanding how we adapt, and the underlying neural mechanisms which allow us to do so, is the focus of our work. Our findings will lead to better theories of how humans perform controlled process such as task switching and working memory and, ultimately, to implement better planning and training practices.

We combine sophisticated methodologies such as fMRI, neuropsychological, and behavioral techniques in order to investigate these abilities in novel ways. Essentially, we emphasize both words in the term “cognitive neuroscience”; that is we attempt to generate and refine theories of cognitive control by understanding how the brain undertakes these functions. In the same way, we test predictions about the functions of neural regions based on theories provided by cognitive psychology. The combination of brain and behavioral data allows us to generate more comprehensive models of cognitive control.