In Brief
In Brief
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My research investigates the role of body-brain interactions in health and cognition by exploring three main questions:
How does the quality of interactions between the body and brain influence the expression of mental and physical disorders?
How do changes in body signals from our organs' cyclic activity affect the brain's performance?
Can body-centered interventions aimed at improving the connection between the body and brain enhance physical and mental health?
Health, cognition, and body-brain interactions
Health, cognition, and body-brain interactions
The functional dialogue between the body and brain is crucial for health, as it maintains the physiological equilibrium necessary for optimal functioning of organs. Dysfunctional communication between the body and brain is increasingly recognized as a common factor in many mental and physical disorders. Furthermore, growing evidence suggests that signals from the cyclic activity of organs, such as the heart, influence the brain's performance in tasks like visual perception and decision-making. Better understanding and targeting the body-brain connection could improve the prevention and treatment of various health conditions and optimize cognitive performance in highly demanding situations.
Research approach and methods
Research approach and methods
The first part of my applied research investigates whether health outcomes or cognitive performance can be predicted from multilevel baseline measures, which include physiological states of the brain and peripheral organs (e.g., the heart), behavioral performance in cognitive tasks, psychological traits, and sociodemographic characteristics. The second part assesses whether body-centered interventions, aimed at re-establishing functional dialogue between the body and brain, can improve health outcomes and cognitive performance.
The fundamental aspect of my research focuses on characterizing the neurobiological mechanisms underlying health, cognition, and effects of body-centered intervention. Specifically, my mechanistic approach examines how the quality of body-brain interactions mediates the relationship between the physiological states of the brain and body and their impact on health outcomes and cognitive performance.
To look into these questions, I use methods such as electroencephalography (EEG), recording of physiological signals (including cardiac, gastric, and postural signals), cognitive tasks, and questionnaires. I analyze these multi-scale data using sophisticated techniques, including advanced EEG data processing pipelines, computational modeling, and machine learning.
Specific needs and applications in the military
Specific needs and applications in the military
The military has reiterated the central role of the human combatant in future combat operations. The success of combat operations requires soldiers to perform highly complex cognitive tasks in environments that expose their body to significant physiological and emotional stressors. I believe that a neuroscience-informed understanding of brain-body interactions can help characterize how the military environment affects soldiers' health, ultimately impacting mission safety and success. Additionally, prevention strategies aimed at enhancing brain-body connection could improve soldiers' adaptation to the increasing cognitive and physical demands of military operations, thereby reducing the risk of health issues. My research supports the mission of the military health system by advising military leadership on issues at the intersection of military readiness and neuroscience.
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