Research

We use behavioral science, computational modeling, electrophysiology, neuroimaging, and noninvasive brain stimulation to uncover the large-scale causal mechanisms that drive perception and cognition in the healthy adult brain. We also examine how these mechanisms change across the lifespan and in neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions, including mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Grounded in fundamental science, this work establishes mechanistic principles that guide the development of targeted neuromodulation approaches, with relevance for both healthy and clinical populations.

Emotion-Cognition Interactions

Using behavior, mega-analysis, electrophysiology and noninvasive neuromodulation, we are probing the mechanisms for how episodic memory prioritizes experiences that hold motivational significance or emotional salience.

Working Memory & Executive Function

Using behavior, electrophysiology, neuroimaging, machine-learning decoding, and noninvasive neuromodulation, we are working to understand the neurocomputational mechanisms that govern various memory and executive processes involved in encoding, maintenance, gating, shielding, deletion, and retrieval of information important for decision-making and goal-directed action.

Computational Memory

Using behavior, modeling, eye tracking, electrophysiology, and noninvasive neuromodulation, we are trying to uncover the computational processes underlying memory for complex objects and scenes.

Perception & Consciousness

Using psychophysics, electrophysiology, neuroimaging, and noninvasive neuromodulation, we are working to characterize the causal neural substrate of conscious and non-conscious visual perceptual experience.

Mental Illness

Using behavior, electrophysiology and noninvasive neuromodulation, we are aiming to identify and repair aberrant neurocomputational mechanisms underlying components of cognitive dysfunction in mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Aging & Alzheimer’s Disease

Using behavior, electrophysiology, neuroimaging, and noninvasive neuromodulation, we are seeking to better understand and rescue memory and executive processes in healthy and pathological aging by synchronizing neural population activity in a rapid and sustainable fashion.