I have conducted research in neuropsychology, particularly in the following three areas.
Hemispheric Specialization
Hemispheric specialization refers to the functional differences between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. For example, it is well-established that the left hemisphere is dominant in language functions, while the right hemisphere excels in spatial abilities. My interest in hemispheric specialization began when I took an Introduction to Psychology course during my third year of Korea university in 1983, which ultimately led me to pursue a career in psychology. This topic later became the focus of my doctoral dissertation. As such, it is a subject that holds a special place in my heart. My research has primarily focused on (1) How does hemispheric specialization affect the perception of stimuli presented in the left and right visual fields? (2) How do cognitive functions differ in patients with left hemisphere damage compared to those with right hemisphere damage? (3) What are the behavioral changes following left hemisphere anesthesia versus right hemisphere anesthesia?
Clinical Neuropsychology
Clinical neuropsychology involves the assessment and rehabilitation of cognitive functions in psychiatric and neurological patients. My research in this field began in 1992 when I joined Daegu University as a professor. A key turning point was when I gained clinical experience at Keimyung University School of Medicine and realized the significant shortage of neuropsychological tests in Korea. I developed several neuropsychological tests, including the first memory test and the frontal lobe-executive function test in Korea, which were published by Neuropsychology Press. I feel a great sense of accomplishment as the tests I developed are being used in hospitals and various clinical settings. I have also conducted research to identify the neuropsychological characteristics of various clinical groups, including schizophrenia, depression, alcohol addiction, gambling addiction, temporal lobe epilepsy, stroke, ADHD, Asperger's syndrome, and children in learning clinics, by applying the tests I developed.
Functional Neuroimaging
Functional neuroimaging is a technique that visualizes the activation levels of different brain regions. For example, when we are speaking, the brain areas related to language become activated. Using functional neuroimaging, we can observe the activation of the brain's "language centers." My research in this field began in 2004 when I worked as a visiting researcher at the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at Duke University. The more I delved into this research, the more I came to appreciate the allure of functional neuroimaging. My research has primarily focused on the following: (1) Which brain regions are activated during memory encoding and retrieval? (2) How do true memories and false memories differently activate brain regions? (3) What psychological functions are associated with the brain's default-mode network?