This neuroscience study investigated why time sometimes feels longer than it really is. By replacing simple geometric shapes with animal images, the researcher tested whether arousal or novelty drives temporal dilation. Results supported the oddball effect, showing that stimulus change, rather than emotional significance, was the primary factor influencing perceived duration.

This research investigates how communication between the heart and brain influences cognition and mental health. By studying heart rate variability, vagus nerve activity, and neural oscillations, it reveals a direct effect of heart rhythms on brain function, offering new insights into schizophrenia, mental illness, and body-based therapeutic interventions.

This neuroscience research investigates how the human brain constructs and adapts goals. Using fMRI and a dynamic decision-making game, the study identifies neural activity in the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex associated with goal selection, valuation, and adaptation. The findings may help develop AI systems better aligned with human goals.

This neuroscience research investigates how the brain assigns value during decision-making. Using low-intensity focused ultrasound and human single-neuron recordings, the study examines the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and its role in transforming perception into choices. The findings may improve understanding of disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and maladaptive decision-making.

This research examines whether emotional sensitivity in women varies across the menstrual cycle by studying the interaction of sleep, hormones, and time. By tracking emotional memory at multiple cycle stages, the work aims to replace stereotypes with evidence and address long-standing gaps in women’s health and cognitive research.

This neuroscience study shows that brief pre-lecture interactions significantly improve learning. Students who chatted with either a human teacher or an AI tutor before watching a video lecture performed better and showed greater brain synchrony in MRI scans. Social interaction—human or artificial—primes the brain for more effective learning.

Aphasia impairs language but not necessarily communication. My research explores how people with aphasia use nonverbal cues, interaction with conversation partners, and contextual support to communicate effectively despite limited language skills. By testing these elements in the lab, the work aims to improve therapy methods and real-world communication outcomes for people with aphasia.