At the CONNECT Lab (Control and Network Connectivity Team), we study how large-scale brain networks interact to shape cognition and behavior. Even the simplest thoughts or actions require communication across distributed brain regions, and this connectivity is far from static—it changes dynamically across multiple timescales. Our work combines cutting-edge neuroimaging methods, including fMRI, EEG, intracranial recordings, and genetics, to uncover the principles of these network dynamics. Ultimately, we aim to understand how these processes support flexible cognition and how they are altered in neurological and psychiatric conditions.
1. Dynamics of the Functional Connectome Across Timescales
The brain’s functional connectome—the map of interacting regions—reconfigures continuously, even at rest. We investigate these dynamics across timescales, from slow fluctuations captured by fMRI to millisecond-scale oscillations measured with EEG. Our findings show that while EEG and fMRI reveal similar network states, they unfold asynchronously, reflecting a scale-free temporal continuum. These dynamics are not only fundamental to cognitive outcomes from moment to moment within individuals but also highly heritable across individuals, linking genetic variation to cognitive abilities. By integrating multimodal imaging, molecular genetics, and rare intracranial recordings, we aim to uncover how multi-timescale connectivity shapes cognition and behavior.
2. Large-Scale Networks and Oscillatory Mechanisms of Cognitive Control
Cognitive control—the ability to adapt thoughts and actions—depends on interactions among higher-order networks such as the Cingulo-Opercular, Dorsal Attention, and Fronto-Parietal networks. Our research disentangles these networks’ roles and explores how they modulate neural oscillations, rhythmic electrical signals that govern information flow. We have shown that these networks differentially influence oscillatory power and synchrony, shaping perception and decision-making. Current work examines how preparatory control emerges without external cues and tests mechanistic models of oscillatory modulation through intracranial studies in humans and animal models.
3. Network-Based Approaches in Psychiatric and Neurological Populations
We apply network neuroscience to understand how connectivity and oscillatory mechanisms are disrupted in clinical conditions. Lesion studies reveal that damage to control networks impairs oscillatory modulation and cognitive flexibility. In Major Depression, we hypothesize that abnormal infraslow fluctuations contribute to maladaptive brain states—a theory we are testing with full-band EEG during decision-making tasks. Future work will extend these approaches to aging and cognitive resilience, aiming to identify biomarkers and mechanisms that inform interventions. Our interdisciplinary collaborations span neuropsychology, genetics, and bioengineering, driving innovations toward next-generation brain imaging.
