Cognitive Control is a term used to describe the ability to flexibly adapt information processing and behavior in the service of our goals by exerting cognitive effort to overcome our habits and automatic thoughts/actions. We are fundamentally interested in the neural mechanisms that support these top-down processes and how they interact with motivation, learning, and skilled action. Scroll down to learn more!
Cognitive Control 
Motivation 
Skilled Action
Cognitive Control and Motivation
What are the neural mechanisms that support cognitive control operations in a variety of task contexts? How do reward and motivation impact cognitive control operations?
Skilled Action and Motivation
How do reward and motivation impact the acquisition of a skill? Does the impact of reward/motivation change over the transition from novice to expert?
Cognitive Control and Skilled Action
How do top-down cognitive control operations contribute to skilled action? How do shifts in attention, instructions, and awareness change the efficacy of learning? Do novices and experts differ in how they utilize cognitive control in the service of successful performance?
Cognition-Control-Action and Choking Under Pressure
Why do people choke under pressure? How do the neural mechanisms important for cognitive control, motivation, and action interact to both help and hurt learning and performance? Can different training strategies mitigate impaired performance under pressure?
