Research Interests & Aspirations

Language Processing & Figurative Comprehension

My research interests focus on how individuals comprehend complex, non-literal forms of language such as irony, sarcasm, and metaphor. These forms place high demands on executive function, social cognition, and metalinguistic awareness. I am especially interested in how cognitive mechanisms such as inhibition, working memory, and Theory of Mind contribute to interpreting speaker intention and resolving ambiguity. I also aim to understand how these mechanisms vary across developmental stages and neurodiverse populations. Potential methodologies of interest include integrating EEG and eye-tracking for real-time analysis of processing dynamics and using fMRI to identify the neural networks supporting figurative comprehension.

Bilingualism & Cognitive Adaptation

I am interested in how bilingual experience relates to variation in executive attention and cognitive control, particularly under conditions that require flexible language processing or rapid goal-switching. Of particular interest is how bilingualism influences the coordination between linguistic and non-linguistic control systems, and whether bilingual experience modifies neural activation patterns supporting attention and conflict resolution. I also seek to understand cross-cultural and experiential factors that shape these relationships. Over time, I hope to address these questions using large, diverse samples and integrated behavioral and neuroimaging approaches guided by open-science and Bayesian methodologies.

Executive Function & Cognitive Control

I am interested in how cognitive control processes—such as inhibition, task-switching, and working memory—enable adaptive behavior in complex environments. My focus is on how these mechanisms operate under uncertainty, implicit task structures, or shifting demands, especially when language or social context increases cognitive load. I aim to explore individual and developmental differences in executive function capacities and how these relate to broader measures of cognitive adaptability. This work is informed by process-based frameworks and involves paradigms such as task-switching, conflict monitoring, and adaptive learning, ideally combined with fMRI or EEG to capture neural dynamics.

Developmental Cognition

I am broadly interested in how cognitive and linguistic systems develop and interact across childhood and adolescence. This includes examining how executive functions support emerging linguistic and social reasoning abilities, and how children navigate ambiguity or conflicting cues in communication. I am particularly drawn to atypical developmental trajectories, such as those in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which can reveal critical insights into the organization of cognitive systems. Methodologies of interest include longitudinal and cross-sectional behavioral designs, child-friendly EEG paradigms, and naturalistic observation in educational or clinical contexts.

Cognitive Mechanisms in Social Language Use

I am interested in how individuals interpret language in socially embedded settings—where intended meaning often diverges from literal expression. This involves exploring how pragmatic inference, perspective-taking, and intention understanding depend on executive and socio-cognitive resources. I hope to investigate how these mechanisms interact during development and across linguistic contexts, with an emphasis on multilingual and neurodiverse populations. This line of inquiry complements broader efforts to understand how cognitive control and language comprehension jointly support flexible, socially appropriate communication.

Interdisciplinary by Design

I am drawn to questions that sit at the intersection of cognitive psychology, neuroscience, developmental science, and linguistics. I hope to build an approach that crosses these boundaries, guided by the belief that understanding cognition requires evidence from multiple levels of analysis—from neural activity to behavior and language.

Process-Oriented, Not Outcome-Driven

My goal is to focus on mechanisms rather than outcomes, aiming to understand how cognitive processes work rather than simply whether they produce significant effects. I value research that prioritizes theoretical clarity and replicable methodology over statistical novelty.

Bayesian, Not Ritualistic

I am increasingly interested in adopting a Bayesian perspective, which evaluates evidence on a continuous scale instead of relying on binary significance testing. This approach offers a way to quantify uncertainty, update beliefs as data accumulate, and compare competing explanations transparently.

Experimental but Realistic

I am drawn to experimental paradigms that are both controlled and ecologically meaningful. In the future, I hope to design tasks that reflect real-world cognition—especially language use, learning, and social interaction—while maintaining methodological precision.

Cautious in Interpretation

I aim to develop a scientific approach grounded in cautious and proportionate interpretation. Each method—whether behavioral, EEG, or fMRI—has its limits, and conclusions should reflect those constraints rather than overstate them.

Developmentally Sensitive

I believe cognitive abilities must always be viewed through the lens of developmental change. Children are not “miniature adults,” and understanding how cognitive systems evolve over time is essential for explaining mature cognition.

Respect for Individual Differences

I view interindividual variability as informative rather than incidental. Differences in traits, neurodiversity, or language background provide valuable clues about the flexibility and diversity of cognitive systems.