Research
Our research program investigates the neuromodulatory and neurochemical signaling systems underlying attention and executive control, the core top-down mental processes that allow us to direct behavior toward goals, regulate impulses, and adapt flexibly to a changing environment. These processes are foundational not only to daily functioning but to learning itself, shaping how we acquire, retain, and apply knowledge through experience. When they are disrupted by environmental/lifestyle factors, aging, or disease, the consequences cascade into functional independence, decision-making, and overall quality of life.
Our prior work in preclinical models defined the contributions of forebrain cholinergic and glutamatergic signaling pathways in modulating distinct component processes of attention and executive functions. We also identified neurotrophins as key regulators of the circuit adaptations that support cognitive control with relevance to aging and ADRD, as well as psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia and nicotine addiction. Building on this foundation, our current work extends these discoveries into human translational studies, testing specific mechanistic hypotheses to bridge preclinical insight with clinical relevance.
This program is organized around three interconnected themes: (1) neuropsychological determinants of cognitive vulnerability and resilience across the lifespan; (2) cognitive control and circuit modulation in substance use disorders; and (3) mechanistic basis and therapeutic potential of non-invasive neuromodulation for cognitive and behavioral health. Across these themes, our goals are threefold:
- to generate mechanistic, circuit-level knowledge of top-down cognitive systems across developmental transitions and aging
- to translate this knowledge and candidate biomarkers into interventions that advance public health;
- to train the next generation of psychologists and neuroscientists.