LAB RESEARCH

Our laboratory studies how humans exert control over their thoughts and behavior, and how this control can break down. Cognitive control is a central aspect of many higher-level functions, such as attention and working memory. Further, the loss of cognitive control is a major component of many neuropsychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia. The ultimate goal of our research is to contribute to an understanding of how cognitive control emerges in the brain, in terms of the interactions between neural processing elements, and without recourse to “homunculus”- type explanations. Further, we wish to understand the role that loss of cognitive control plays in psychopathology, and what underlying pathophysiology gives rise to such control deficits. To achieve these goals, we use computational modeling and convergent cognitive neuroscience methods.

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Effort-Based Decision Making & Motivated Behavior (Barch, PI) R37MH066031

Dual Mechanisms of Cognitive Control (Braver, PI) R37MH066078

Aging effects on the neural coding of proactive and reactive cognitive control (Braver, Bugg, PI) R21AG075590

1/5-Cognitive Neurocomputational Task Reliability & Clinical Applications Consortium (Barch, PI) R01MH084840

M4: Mindfulness Mechanisms and Methods Meeting (Braver, PI) R13AT011981

Characterizing pubertal and age mechanisms of neurodevelopment and association with rising internalizing symptoms (Barch, Somerville, PIs) R01 MH129493

21/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM (Barch, Heath, Madden, PIs) U01 DA051038-01

The Developmental Psychopathology of Suicidal Ideations and Cognitions in Childhood (Barch, Luby PIs) R01MH117436

Neural & Motivational Mechanisms of age-related change in emotion regulation (English, Thompson, Braver PIs ) R01AG070139

Cognitive enhancement through model-based and individualized neurostimulation (Braver, Ching, PIs) R21MH132240

RECENTLY COMPLETED RESEARCH

Neural Mechanisms of Mindfulness (Braver, PI)

Interactions of Motivation & Cognitive Control in Older Adult Decision-Making

BRAIN

COGNITION

CONNECTOME

DEVELOPMENTAL

EFFORT & REWARD

MEMORY

MINDFULNESS

NEUROECONOMICS

PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

SCHIZOPHRENIA