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 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 Publications
Modeling of control over task switching and cross-task interference supports a two-dimensional model of cognitive stability and flexibility.
Journal Article Psychon Bull Rev · December 2025 Reading a book in a coffee shop requires focusing on the task at hand and ignoring task-irrelevant distraction (cognitive stability), while setting aside the book to answer a phone call requires the ability to switch between tasks (cognitive flexibility). ... 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 2025 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 CiteOne-shot stimulus-control associations generalize over different stimulus viewpoints and exemplars.
Journal Article Memory & cognition · February 2025 Cognitive control processes are central to adaptive behavior, but how control is applied in a context-appropriate manner is not fully understood. One way to produce context-sensitive control is by mnemonically linking particular control settings to specifi ... 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 - 2026View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
University of London (United Kingdom) ·
2002
Ph.D.
University of London (United Kingdom) ·
1999
B.S.