Due to the passing of our beloved mentor and colleague, Dr. Susan Courtney, we are not accepting positions for this lab at this time. You may find her obituary from our JHU community on the Hub.
Research: I am interested in the neural basis of higher cognitive function. Specifically, my research focuses on working memory, attention, and cognitive control as these are the building blocks of all cognitively complex behavior and thought. I use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), cognitive testing, and computational modeling to develop an integrated understanding of these dynamic neural systems, from the activity of single cells to behavior. Within this context, there are three basic types of questions that I am pursuing:
- Functional Organization of Prefrontal Cortex and its role in the neural systems of higher cognition.
- Functional Specialization, Distributed Representation, and Interactions among Brain Areas
- Plasticity and Development
In summary, I am interested in the organization and role of the prefrontal cortex in working memory, attention, and cognitive control. In order to fully understand the organization and role of the prefrontal cortex, one must also understand how this organization can be changed by interactions within the prefrontal cortex and with other brain regions, and by experience, disease and development.
