Our research focuses on the role of the prefrontal cortex in cognitive control - our ability to guide our actions in service to a goal. Most of our decisions are value maximizing, meaning they are made based on evaluating potential outcomes and selecting those that best align with our goals and preferences. Cognitive control is essential for effective value-based decision making, as it allows us to focus attention on relevant information and exercise self-control to choose actions that align with long-term goals over immediate desires. Our research aims to understand how the brain achieves these control processes during value-based choice. Ultimately, we strive to develop next-generation brain-computer interfaces that will allow us to interact with the neural dynamics of cognitive control, thereby informing the development of interventions for disorders such as addiction and compulsive behaviors.

We pursue this goal via multidisciplinary approach using cutting edge techniques in non-human primates. We begin by designing behavioral tasks that isolate particular aspects of cognition relevant for cognitive control. We then design and 3D print custom brain implants which enable us to perform multi-site, ultra high density Neuropixel recordings. By recording from hundreds neurons in multiple brain areas simultaneously, we are able to observe the network dynamics underlying cognitive control.

A major component of our research program is the development of closed-loop brain-computer interfaces. This involves decoding the content of cognition in real time and then using those decoded signals to trigger intracranial stimulation to either enhance or degrade a cognitive process in real time. Our lab is exploring this frontier to develop closed-loop systems that interact with the neural dynamics of cognitive control, aiming to optimize performance and potentially mitigate cognitive impairments in neurological disorders. This research holds promise for personalized therapeutic interventions tailored to individual cognitive profiles.