We focus on two main areas of research: (1) neural basis of cognitive control and decision-making, with emphasis on statistical methods for modeling hemodynamic responses in decision-related neuroimaging studies, and (2) the clinical implications of neurovascular deficits in brain tumors and other vascular disorders. We developed a set of statistical techniques to measure neurovascular coupling differences across individuals or groups and to control between-subject variance in neurovascular coupling to improve the estimation of the underlying neural activity. We also developed methods to measure disruption of neurovascular coupling (i.e. BOLD asynchrony) by infiltrative glioma to estimate extent of tumor infiltration and predict risk of recurrence.
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The borderline personality disorder feature of identity instability predicts temporal discounting in a community sample: An exploratory study (Personality Science, 2025) – Among the nine diagnostic BPD features, only identity instability was associated with higher temporal discounting. Thus, individuals with BPD features may discount delayed rewards due to their fragmented sense of self, coupled with negative future expectations..
Timing of Planning Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Patient Selection for Adaptive Radiation Therapy in Newly Diagnosed High-Grade Glioma (Red Journal/IJROBP, 2025) – Radiation therapy planning for high-grade glioma typically relies on a single postoperative MRI, assuming stable tumor and brain architecture throughout treatment. Though the gross tumor volume and surrounding tissues can shift after surgery and throughout RT, its rate of change, predictors of the movement magnitude, and impact on different dosing strategies are not well understood. This study uses meta-analysis and prospective MRI data to optimize MRI timing and identify patients who may benefit from adaptive RT (ART). We provide recommendations for clinical decision-making.
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy improves psychiatric symptoms across multiple dimensions in patients with cancer (Nature Mental Health, 2024) – Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy not only improved depression and anxiety, but also improved interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, obsession–compulsion and somatization without inducing any lasting phobia, paranoia or psychosis.
Biologically informed deep neural networks provide quantitative assessment of intratumoral heterogeneity in post treatment glioblastoma (NPJ Digital Medicine, 2024) – We developed a biologically-informed neural network (BioNet) to predict regional distributions of proliferating tumor and reactive/inflammatory cells in recurrent GBM.
Greater affective network maturity is associated with better clinical outcomes in women with early sexual trauma (Development and Psychopathology, 2024) – Sexual trauma was associated with greater affective network maturity and greater affective network maturity was associated with better clinical but not state psychological outcomes. These results suggest that sexual trauma during development might uniquely alter the maturational trajectory of affect-related circuitry, with distinct mental health consequences in emerging adulthood. Whereas delayed affective network maturation is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, accelerated affective network maturation might confer resilience in survivors.