Short CV

My work is mostly concerned with the computational and neural underpinnings of social decision-making from two distinct but related perspectives: how the structure of interpersonal conflict influences behavioral and manifests itself in the brain, and how social norms influence the human ability to extract information from the environment. In all my projects I combine behavioral economic paradigms with neuro-physiological measurements such as fMRI and hormonal assays. In my work on conflict I use econometric calculations in conjunction with fMRI and a novel interpersonal contest game to relate subtle psychological motives to certain brain networks associated with reward processing and flexible cognitive control. In my work on social norms I use computational modeling and fMRI in order to mathematically formalize social norms, model how they are acquired by individuals, and determine to what degree this acquisition is facilitated or hindered by the social aspects of the environment in which the norms are embedded.

Research

I am interested in applying computational modeling, specifically reinforcement learning, and fMRI to the understanding of social cognition.