A key component of CIMCYC's research excellence is the use of state-of-the-art non-invasive neurotechnologies and the analysis of neuroimaging data using cutting-edge methods.
We apply advanced morphometric and connectivity analyses to study, for example, individual differences in brain structure associated with physical fitness and intimate partner violence against women.
In recent years, we have also developed and implemented innovative applications of multivariate analysis methods for neuroimaging data, including magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography. We have pioneered new approaches to characterize brain activation patterns associated with specific information using multivariate pattern analysis. This helps us understand, for example, how the brain encodes and acts on novel verbal instructions, how we prepare for complex behaviors in advance, and why we become aware of only part of the information around us.
Knowledge of brain function is crucial for applications involving brain-machine interfaces, which can, for example, help detect residual consciousness in non-responsive patients with disorders of consciousness.
In addition, we combine brain tractography with transcranial magnetic stimulation to study the links between brain regions, their connectivity, and their causal role in a range of mental processes.
We also participate in international collaborations focused on computational approaches to cognitive neuroscience.