My primary research interest is in the neural and psychological bases of cognitive and affective control. My research quantifies behavioral performance and brain activity--measured primarily using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)--to investigate the neural mechanisms by which humans have flexible control over their behavior. This approach emphasizes the mutual constraints on interpretation afforded by studying behavior and functional anatomy at the same time. My main research interests along those lines are:

* mechanisms of emotion and affect regulation

* the relationship between affective regulation and cognitive control

* relationships among various hypothesized cognitive control processes: selective attention, inhibition, task switching

I am also interested in developing image analysis and statistical modeling methods that will improve our ability to use fMRI, in particular, as a research tool in cognitive and affective neuroscience. Current projects along these lines include:

* optimization of experimental design for fMRI experiments, including computer aided design using genetic algorithms

* meta-analysis of functional imaging data

* nonlinear alternatives to hemodynamic response fitting

* robust regression techniques in massively univariate linear models

* multivariate techniques to a) define subsets of voxels as an alternative to the massively univariate approach and b) make inferences about group imaging data

An important related goal is to begin collaborative efforts that combine fMRI and behavioral studies with other human neuroscience methodologies, including TMS, neuropsychology, PET ligand binding, and ERP/EEG techniques.