RESEARCH INTERESTS

Flexible thinking and adaptive behavior are crucial not only for mental resilience but also for advancing artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Humans and even AI agents often grapple with a deep-seated need for agency, predictability, and control - especially in the face of uncertainty. However, the ability to release this need for control, whether in pursuit of goals or navigating social and unpredictable environments, is often just as critical as adapting to new challenges. This tension between holding on and letting go of uncontrollable factors highlights a fundamental struggle in both humans and AI agents. Why do we find it so difficult to relinquish control? How does this struggle shape our capacity to manage uncertainty and respond to novel challenges? And how does this mental resistance and rigidity contribute to mental health conditions, such as mood, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental (ADHD, autism) conditions?

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My research explores how humans and AI agents manage uncertainty across non-social and social contexts, focusing on the interplay between adaptability and the desire for controllability. Using computational models and neural networks, I build mechanistic accounts of how trade-offs are balanced between the need for adaptability and the motivation to control outcomes. I also investigate how different coping strategies can become rigid or dysfunctional, offering insights into pathways into and out of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and ADHD. To examine how these dynamics unfold across contexts and over time, I employ machine learning and cutting-edge engineered game environments to provide a comprehensive assessment of adaptability from neuroscientific, cognitive, and affective perspectives. Ultimately, I aim to uncover insights that can improve mental health interventions and enhance AI systems.

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​INTEGRATIVE APPROACH

The field of cognitive neuroscience and computational psychiatry is at a pivotal point, striving to create unified methodologies, theories, and models that translate into practical applications. Traditional research often isolates specific disorders, examining them within narrow biological or behavioral scopes. However, an integrated perspective is crucial for a nuanced understanding of the interplay between brain, mind, and behavior, and for advancing mental health care.

In response to this need, my work adopts a multidisciplinary approach. I blend insights from computational psychiatry, mathematical psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics. This synthesis allows me to explore the cognitive, motivational, and physiological underpinnings of individual thought processes, perceptions, and behaviors. My goal is to develop a comprehensive and integrative framework that enhances our understanding of essential mental processes and the intricate connections between the brain and behavior. This framework is designed to unravel the complexities of what we categorize as mental health conditions, offering a more profound and holistic perspective.