Within the clinical domain, our work focuses on disturbances of these systems in schizophrenia . Empirical studies are conducted to both test predictions made by the models, and to inform the further development. This permits the construction of computational models that can simulate human performance in cognitive tasks, using mechanisms that approximate those believed to be present in the brain. These models provide a conceptual link between cognitive processes and underlying neural mechanisms, and insights into how specific neurobiological abnormalities can produce the patterns of behavioral disturbances observed in psychiatric disorders. Our empirical studies make use of standard experimental methods from cognitive psychology , both alone, and in combination with non-invasive functional neuroimaging and psychopharmacological techniques.
Pharmacological studies focus on dopaminergic agents.
All of these methods are used to study healthy volunteers and patients with schizophrenia. The goal of these studies is to deepen our understanding of normal function, and bring this to bear in our effort to understand and address the disruptions of cognitive functioning that occur in psychopathology. For a list of recent publications click here .