Overview
My research focuses on the computational and neural mechanisms of cognitive control, the use of internal goals to guide behavior. This involves understanding how people configure and focus on a current task, and how they switch from one task to another. We study these processes using behavioral experiments as well as computational modeling, neuroimaging, and neurostimulation techniques.
Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations
Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
·
2020 - Present
Psychology & Neuroscience,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Chair of Psychology and Neuroscience
·
2024 - Present
Psychology & Neuroscience,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Investigator in the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
·
2009 - Present
Duke Institute for Brain Sciences,
University Institutes and Centers
Member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience
·
2009 - Present
Center for Cognitive Neuroscience,
Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
Affiliate of the Center for Brain Imaging and Analysis
·
2010 - Present
Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center,
Institutes and Centers
Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society
·
2017 - Present
Duke Science & Society,
University Initiatives & Academic Support Units
Recent Scholarly Works
Insights into the neural mechanisms supporting cognitive stability and flexibility from human intracranial electroencephalography.
Journal article Neurosci Biobehav Rev · October 2026 Cognitive control is the ability to direct behavior based on internal goals. Two core capacities of cognitive control are focusing attention on task-relevant stimuli while ignoring distracters (cognitive stability) and shifting between different goals/rule ... Full text Link to item CiteLearning and Using Different Task Rule Updating Strategies Require Extensive Practice.
Journal article Cogn Sci · September 2026 People adjust how fast they update task rules, depending on the volatility of their environment, by regulating cognitive control accordingly. We investigated whether this adaptation is primarily driven by recently experienced volatility in task demands, or ... Full text Link to item CiteDomain-specific cognitive flexibility: Shift-readiness adaptations for task- and attention-switching are non-transferrable.
Journal article Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006) · June 2026 Adaptive behavior in the real world involves navigating competing goals in a constantly changing environment. Doing so requires cognitive flexibility across multiple domains, including flexibility for switching between tasks, that is, activating the approp ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Duke-NCCU Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Training Program in Child Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Conditions Program (DN-IPT)
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institute of Mental Health · 2024 - 2029Neurocognitive mechanisms of control over cognitive stability and flexibility
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Mental Health · 2023 - 2028Mechanisms Regulating Complex Social Behavior
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by University of Pennsylvania · 2016 - 2027View All Grants
Education
University of London (United Kingdom) ·
2002
Ph.D.
University of London (United Kingdom) ·
1999
B.S.