Our overarching goal is to understand the neural and neurochemical mechanisms underlying flexible and adaptive behavior and decision making. Such adaptive behaviour requires motivational and cognitive control as well as reinforcement learning.
I aim to characterize: (i) the distinct contribution of subcortical structures, such as the basal ganglia, from that of the prefrontal cortex; (ii) the role of neuromodulators, in particular dopamine and serotonin and (iii) individual differences at the level of personality traits, baseline neurotransmitter levels, structural connectivity and genotypic variation.
To this end, I combine cognitive psychology with psychopharmacology, functional neuroimaging, structural neuroimaging, neurochemical (PET) imaging, computational modeling, and patient studies (e.g. Parkinson’s disease & ADHD).