Overview
Research in my laboratory investigates the brain mechanisms underlying economic and social decision making; collectively, this research falls into the field of “decision neuroscience” or "neuroeconomics". My laboratory uses fMRI to probe brain function, behavioral assays to characterize individual differences, and other physiological methods (e.g., eye tracking, pharmacological manipulation, genetics) to link brain and behavior. Concurrent with research on basic processes, my laboratory has also investigated the application of new analysis methods for fMRI data, including functional connectivity analyses, pattern classification analyses, and combinatoric multivariate approaches. We have also been applying computational methods to problems in behavioral economics and consumer decision making.
I have also been very active in outreach, mentorship, and educational activities; as examples, I am lead author on the textbook Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Sinauer Associates; 3rd edition in 2014), I teach Fundamentals of Decision Science, Decision Neuroscience and Neuroethics, and many of my postdoctoral and graduate trainees now lead research laboratories of their own.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Higher self-assessed subjective social status is associated with worse perception of others' emotions.
Journal Article Scientific reports · May 2025 The ability to accurately perceive others' emotions is arguably critical for successful social interaction and may facilitate upward social mobility through personal and career advancement. Yet, prior research suggests that individuals of lower social stat ... Full text CiteEnhancing the quality and reproducibility of research: Preferred Evaluation of Cognitive and Neuropsychological Studies - The PECANS statement for human studies.
Journal Article Behavior research methods · May 2025 Are scientific papers providing all essential details necessary to ensure the replicability of study protocols? Are authors effectively conveying study design, data analysis, and the process of drawing inferences from their results? These represent only a ... Full text CiteBeneath the surface: revealing deep-tissue blood flow in human subjects with massively parallelized diffuse correlation spectroscopy.
Journal Article Neurophotonics · April 2025 SignificanceDiffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) allows label-free, non-invasive investigation of microvascular dynamics deep within tissue, such as cerebral blood flow (CBF). However, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in DCS limits its effective ... Full text Open Access CiteRecent Grants
Neurobiology Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke · 2024 - 2029Duke University Psychiatry Physician-Scientist Residency Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Mental Health · 2024 - 2029Mechanisms Regulating Complex Social Behavior
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of Pennsylvania · 2016 - 2026View All Grants