Research

We aim to establish fundamental neurocognitive models of training-induced plasticity in both healthy and clinical populations. Building on these models, we design and implement neurophysiologically informed cognitive training programs for the remediation of neuropsychiatric disorders and the enhancement of cognition in the general population.

Our work is particularly focused on modulating the brain reward system and cravings through executive training. We also identify digital behavioral biomarkers of motivational system activity and examine how they can improve the precision of our interventions.

We conduct applied research to assess how these interventions influence implicit neurocognitive processes underlying health-related behaviors, including eating habits and addictive patterns. Our goal is to produce application-oriented research with tangible impact on public health, disease prevention and treatment.

Our studies rely on neuroimaging, neurostimulation and pharmacological approaches, as well as their combinations.

Open Science statement: As demonstrated by the systematic adoption of the Registered Report (RR) publication format and open science policies in our laboratory, we are strongly committed to open science practice. The Registered Report publication route to ensure i) methodological rigor and optimization by being reviewed before data collection; ii) best research practice, by controlling for publication bias and questionable research practice; iii) reproducible methods and analyses by detailed protocols, and replicable results via adequately-powered studies; iv) public availability of data, analytic methods, code and study materials on OSF webpages.

Our work is supported by public and private grants, notably from:

•         Swiss National Science Foundation
•         Swiss Foundation for Alcohol Research
•         Velux Foundation
•         Novartis Foundation for Biological and Medical Research
•         Swiss Parkinson