Cellular & Molecular Research

Our researchers who study cellular and molecular neuroscience use state-of-the art experimental techniques to investigate the molecular machinery driving the development, plasticity, and degeneration of the nervous system.

Cognition & Emotion Research

The study of the interactions between emotion and cognition are fundamental to the study of human behavior. All aspects of basic cognition, from perception to memory, to learning may be studied within the social and emotional context. Indeed, affective neuroscience is a major area of investigation, as neuroscientists study the influence of emotion on cognitive processes and the neural networks underlying the interface of emotion and cognition.

Computational Modeling & Theory Research

Theoretical and computational approaches are playing an increasingly important role in the study of brain and behavior, helping to bridge the wide gap between our understanding of neural mechanisms and cognitive phenomena.

Development & Aging Research

One of the strengths of our NACS program is the emphasis on understanding typical neural development. Gene-environment interactions during development underlie the establishment of circuits that meditate sensory, cognitive, emotional and social behaviors. Cognitive and social behavior is both highly complex and diverse across animal species, exhibiting remarkable variability even within a single species.

Disorders & Treatment Research

NACS researchers study basic mechanisms of neural development and function in order to identify mechanisms that link genetic and experiential factors to typical and maladaptive outcomes.

Language & Speech Research

The main research objective of this research area is to bridge the gap between theoretical, computational, psychological and neuroscientific models of language, and students are encouraged to pursue close connections between these different approaches. Research topics include language acquisition (from infancy to kindergarten and beyond), adult language processing, neurolinguistics, neurocognitive disorders, and computational modeling.

Sensory & Motor Systems Research

Sensory-motor integration takes the view that in many aspects of behavior, motor actions and sensory processing are inextricably linked. Examples include: walking, talking, singing, grasping, standing, etc. Many brain areas are more clearly devoted to either sensory processing or motor control where their roles are better defined.