Russell Epstein is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is affiliated with the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Goddard Labs. His research focuses on neural mechanisms underlying visual scene perception, spatial navigation, and memory. Epstein holds a BA in Physics from the University of Chicago and a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University. Epstein’s research interests include high-level vision, spatial cognition, and the neural basis of environmental representations. His lab uses functional MRI and cognitive neuroscience techniques to study how scenes, objects, landmarks, and spaces are encoded in brain systems such as the parahippocampal place area and retrosplenial cortex. Recent work explores cognitive maps, grid-like neural representations, and the role of multisensory cues in navigation. His articles emphasize spatial navigation strategies, hierarchical cognitive maps, and the interplay between perception and memory. Notable contributions include investigations into hippocampal spatial metrics, olfactory navigation, and the neural underpinnings of environmental learning. Epstein teaches courses on cognitive neuroscience, including PSYC 149 and PSYC 600. He advises two graduate students in Psychology and has no listed scientific awards. His work is supported by grants (unspecified) and conducted within collaborative teams at the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience. Epstein’s research extends to labs focused on spatial cognition and neuroimaging, advancing understanding of how humans mentally map environments through visual and sensory integration.
Frank E. Garcea, Ph.D., is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. His research focuses on the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying tool use, apraxia, and stroke recovery. He employs neuropsychological testing, fMRI, and lesion-symptom mapping to study brain injury effects on functional connectivity and action knowledge. Education: Bachelor of Science in Psychology, St. John Fisher College (2006–2010) PhD in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester (2012–2017) Research Interests: Dr. Garcea investigates how brain regions like the parietal cortex and dorsal/ventral streams mediate object manipulation and tool use. His work explores stroke-related disconnection syndromes, motor speech coordination networks, and translational brain mapping to preserve neural function during surgery. He collaborates on projects involving epilepsy patients undergoing electrocorticography to study action-related neural pathways. Labs & Affiliations: Principal Investigator of the Garcea Lab at URMC, focusing on tool use deficits in brain tumor/stroke survivors. Affiliated with the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience and the Neurobiology & Anatomy Program. His lab integrates neuroimaging, lesion analysis, and clinical care to advance personalized brain mapping strategies.
Alex Holcombe is a Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Sydney . His research spans two major domains: perception and attention (investigating visual information bottlenecks and temporal processing) and meta-science (advancing open science and reproducibility through tools like tenzing.club and editorial roles in open-access journals). Education: PhD in Psychology (Harvard), BA in Psychology and Cognitive Science (University of Virginia) Editorial Roles: Associate editor for WikiJournal of Science , Collabra: Psychology , and Meta-psychology His experimental psychology work uses behavioral studies to reveal limits in visual processing speed, feature binding, and attentional resource allocation. Key findings include the role of naps in learning, parietal lobe function in rapid letter processing, and temporal binding dynamics in perception. Recent publications focus on peer review reform (2025 PNAS ), contributorship attribution (2024 Accountability in Research ), and visual cognition (2024 Journal of Vision ). These works reflect his dual commitment to understanding perceptual mechanisms and improving scientific practices. Advising: Mentors PhD students including De-wei DAI, Jye MARCHANT, and Rasmus PEDERSEN Labs: Leads research on visual perception and attentional bottlenecks Grants: 2024 Core Funding Grant for object tracking research
Hernan G. Rey, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Marquette-MCW Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering. He previously held an Assistant Professor position at Baylor College of Medicine until July 2022. His research focuses on understanding human episodic memory, improving epilepsy diagnosis and treatment, and developing tools for electrophysiological data analysis. Rey's lab records single-neuron activity and intracranial EEG from epilepsy patients to investigate brain mechanisms underlying memory and neurophysiological processes. Education: PhD in Engineering, University of Buenos Aires (2009) Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biomedical Informatics, University of Leicester (2012–2015) Bachelor's in Electronics Engineering, University of Buenos Aires (2002) Research Interests: Dr. Rey explores anterior temporal lobectomy, drug-resistant epilepsy, electrophysiology, hippocampal function, machine learning applications in neuroscience, and signal processing. His work bridges clinical neurosurgery, biomedical engineering, and cognitive neuroscience to advance both fundamental understanding and clinical interventions. Publications: His recent work highlights studies on parietal cortex function in action monitoring, single-neuron responses in memory encoding, and neurophysiological correlates of depression. These reflect a focus on translational neuroscience and interdisciplinary collaboration. Awards: EPSRC Rising Star Award (2014) Labs/Teams: The ReyLab drives innovation in electrophysiological data acquisition and analysis, emphasizing clinical application for epilepsy and memory disorders.
Professor Gesa Hartwigsen is a leading cognitive neuroscientist holding dual appointments as Professor for Cognitive and Biological Psychology at Leipzig University and Lise Meitner Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS). She leads the Research Group Cognition and Plasticity, focusing on neural networks for higher cognitive functions, adaptive plasticity in cognition, and language network reorganization after stroke. Her educational background includes: Studies of Psychology (Dipl.-Psych., 2001-2006) at Kiel University PhD in Neurology (Dr. phil., 2007-2010) at Kiel University Habilitation in Psychology (2018) at University of Potsdam Hartwigsen's research spans cognitive neuroscience with particular emphasis on language processing, neural plasticity, and brain stimulation techniques. Her work investigates how brain networks support semantic cognition, how they adapt following neurological damage, and how they change across the lifespan. She employs advanced methodologies including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), functional MRI, and concurrent TMS-fMRI to establish causal relationships in neural processing. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on language networks, executive control mechanisms, and neural plasticity. Her work increasingly integrates advanced computational approaches with neurostimulation to understand semantic processing, speech comprehension in challenging environments, and recovery from language disorders. A significant trend is her development of methodological frameworks for concurrent TMS-fMRI, establishing new standards in the field. Her notable scientific recognition includes: ERC Consolidator Grant (2023-2027) for "The Flexible Brain: (Re-)shaping Adaptation in Semantic Cognition" NVIDIA GPU grant (Titan Xp Donation) Hartwigsen has secured substantial research funding, including multiple DFG projects as Principal Investigator. Her current DFG Research Unit (2023-2026) focuses on "Modulation of brain networks for memory and learning by transcranial electrical stimulation," where she serves as PI. She has successfully led multiple interdisciplinary projects examining language networks, neural plasticity, and brain stimulation effects. At the MPI CBS, she leads the Cognition and Plasticity research group, which investigates how brain networks support cognitive functions and adapt to challenges. Her team employs a multimodal approach combining neurostimulation, neuroimaging, and behavioral methods to understand the causal architecture of cognitive networks, particularly in language processing and semantic cognition.
Håkan Fischer is a Professor of Human Biological Psychology at Stockholm University, where he has served as Head of the Department of Psychobiology and Epidemiology since 2011. He also holds an associate professor position at Karolinska Institutet, is affiliated with the Aging Research Center and Stockholm University Brain Imaging Centre, and is a faculty member at Digital Futures at the Royal Institute of Technology. Since September 2025, he has additionally served as a visiting professor at Linköping University. Fischer has established himself as a leading researcher in emotional and cognitive processing, with particular expertise in socio-emotional aspects across the lifespan. Fischer earned his PhD in psychology from Uppsala University in 1998, followed by postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School (1999-2001). He then worked at the Aging Research Center at Karolinska Institutet before joining Stockholm University in 2011. His academic journey includes a sabbatical year (2021-2022) at the University of Florida's Department of Psychology. Fischer is actively involved in university governance as a member of the Swedish Research Council's Subject Council for Humanities and Social Sciences (2023-present) and represents Stockholm University in multiple international collaborations. Håkan Fischer's research primarily focuses on investigating intra- and interindividual differences in affective, cognitive, social and perceptual processing, with special emphasis on age-related differences in adults. His laboratory employs advanced neuroimaging techniques including fMRI, PET, and fNIRS to examine brain function, while also utilizing structural imaging methods like T1-weighted imaging, DTI, and perfusion imaging to study brain structure. Fischer advocates for single-subject small-N designs to better understand emotional and cognitive mechanisms. His current research lines include socio-emotional perception and recognition, oxytocin effects on socio-emotional processing across the lifespan, and AI development for interpersonal communication analysis. Analysis of Fischer's recent publications reveals a strong focus on emotion recognition across populations, neurobiological mechanisms of socio-emotional processing, and methodological innovations. His work consistently integrates behavioral testing, neuroimaging, and genetic analysis to provide comprehensive insights. The increasing incorporation of AI approaches demonstrates his adaptation to emerging technological advances in psychological research. Fischer has published 136 peer-reviewed articles with over 12,200 citations and a Google Scholar h-index of 53. Fischer has received consistent funding since 2002 from prestigious sources including the Swedish Research Council, Wallenberg Foundation, STINT, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, and Konung Gustav V och Drottning Victorias stiftelse. He currently leads nine funded research projects (two as principal investigator totaling 6.9 million SEK, seven as co-applicant totaling 24.8 million SEK) spanning multiple international collaborations in Sweden, Germany, and the USA. As an educator, Fischer leads the basic course in Cognitive Neuroscience and the master's course in Emotion Psychology and Affective Neuroscience. He regularly teaches at both undergraduate and advanced levels, primarily in biological psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and emotion psychology. Fischer currently supervises six doctoral students (one as main supervisor, four as assistant supervisor) and has mentored graduate students since 2002. Håkan Fischer leads a dynamic research laboratory that investigates emotional, social, perceptual, and cognitive processing. The lab examines how intraindividual variations across stimuli and time, as well as interindividual differences in age, gender, genetics, personality, and sleep deprivation affect these processes. His lab maintains active national and international collaborations with researchers at Stockholm University, Uppsala University, Karolinska Institutet, University of Florida, and University of Gothenburg, creating a robust interdisciplinary research environment focused on translating basic neuroscience into practical applications.
Michael Petrides is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at McGill University. His research focuses on neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience, investigating the functions of the frontal, temporal, and parietal cortices through studies involving patients with brain lesions, animal models, and neuroimaging techniques like PET and fMRI. His work bridges human and non-human primate studies to understand cognitive mechanisms. Research Interests: Cognitive Neuroscience: Examines neural underpinnings of higher cognitive functions. Behavioral Neuroscience: Analyzes brain-behavior relationships via lesion studies and animal models. Neuroimaging: Utilizes PET and fMRI to map brain regions involved in memory, language, and decision-making. Publications Trends: His work emphasizes cross-species comparisons (human-macaque), functional connectivity analysis, and clinical applications of neuroimaging in neurosurgical planning. Advising & Grants: No student advisees listed. Grants and funding details not explicitly mentioned in provided materials. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with McGill's Psychology Department research groups studying cognitive neuroscience and brain architecture.
Charan Ranganath is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Davis, and director of the Dynamic Memory Lab. He is affiliated with the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience and the Center for Mind and Brain, focusing on human memory and executive control using neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and behavioral methods. His research explores the neural basis of memory, including roles of the prefrontal cortex, medial temporal lobes, and hippocampus in working and long-term memory. Education: Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Northwestern University M.S., Clinical Psychology, Northwestern University B.A., Psychology, University of California, Berkeley Ranganath’s research spans hippocampal-cortical interactions, curiosity-driven memory enhancement, schizophrenia-related memory deficits, and computational models of memory systems. His work reveals overlapping prefrontal and medial temporal lobe activity in memory tasks and investigates how stress, aging, and neuromodulation affect memory dynamics. His research trends emphasize episodic memory , relational memory , neural oscillations , cortico-hippocampal networks , curiosity-driven learning , and clinical applications in mental illness. Scientific Awards: Guggenheim Fellowship Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship Laird Cermak Award Samuel Sutton Award Chancellor’s Fellow award Young Investigator Award (Cognitive Neuroscience Society) National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship (2015) He has secured grants from the Department of Defense, National Institute of Mental Health, and private foundations. His lab collaborates with Andy Yonelinas on recognition memory and with others on field potentials in hippocampal studies. He teaches Human Learning, Cognitive Neuroimaging, and Current Research in Psychology.
Katya Rascovsky, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. She holds committee memberships in the Penn Latin America Center Steering Committee, Hospital University Hospital (HUP) Neurology Inclusion and Diversity (iDARE) Community and Social Action Committee, Committee on Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity at Penn Memory Center, and Penn Neuropsychology Internship Committee. Education: B.A. in Biological Basis Behavior & Psychology, University of Pennsylvania (1993) M.A. in Psychology, New York University (1995) M.S. in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University (2004) Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology/Neuropsychology, University of California, San Diego/San Diego State University (2005) Research Focus: Dr. Rascovsky specializes in neurodegenerative disorders with emphasis on Frontotemporal Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, and Primary Progressive Aphasia. Her work integrates neuropsychological assessment with behavioral analysis, particularly focusing on Latino populations and Spanish-language neuropsychological instruments. She leads adaptation of the NACC FTLD Module for Spanish-speaking populations and participates in the US Consortium of Aging, Dementia & Latino Studies. Publication Trends: Her recent research (2015-2016) demonstrates consistent focus on neuroimaging correlates of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly frontotemporal degeneration variants. Studies examine pathological mechanisms, cognitive-behavioral manifestations, and experimental interventions, utilizing multimodal approaches including neuroimaging, neuropathology, and behavioral assessment across diverse patient populations. Committees & Collaborations: Penn Latin America Center Steering Committee HUP Neurology Inclusion and Diversity (iDARE) Committee Penn Memory Center Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Committee Penn Neuropsychology Internship Committee US Consortium of Aging, Dementia & Latino Studies
Serra Favila is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences at Brown University, affiliated with the Carney Institute for Brain Science. She holds a BA in Human Biology from Stanford University and a PhD in Psychology from New York University, followed by postdoctoral training at Columbia University. Her research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying episodic memory, employing methods such as functional neuroimaging, intracranial recordings, behavioral measurements, eye-tracking, and computational modeling. She teaches CLPS 1480I: Memory, Space, and the Hippocampus. Dr. Favila's work investigates how humans form flexible yet durable memories, emphasizing the interaction between environmental cues, cognitive goals, and neural processes. Her lab explores memory’s selectivity and susceptibility to interference, with implications for understanding how memory shapes future behavior. Key topics include hippocampal contributions to spatial and temporal memory, neural remapping, and memory-guided navigation. Her articles span themes like hippocampal mechanisms for resolving memory competition, visual cortex contributions to recall success, and neural underpinnings of spatial perception. She maintains an active lab website detailing ongoing projects and collaborates across disciplines to advance cognitive neuroscience. Office hours are held Mondays from 4-5pm in Metcalf Research 245.
Julie A. Fiez is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, with a secondary faculty appointment in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders. Her research integrates behavioral, neuropsychological, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging methods to explore how the brain supports speech, language, reading, working memory, and learning in healthy and patient populations. She also applies this knowledge to develop effective instructional and intervention strategies for reading and mathematics. Education : Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Washington University; Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Iowa. Her research spans cognitive neuroscience, focusing on speech and language processing, reading development, numerical cognition, and brain connectivity. She investigates the neural mechanisms of learning, memory, and pain, often using advanced neuroimaging techniques. Recent studies include neuroimaging analyses of the multiple demand network in reading, cerebellar contributions to numeracy, and effects of sedatives on memory. Her work also examines deep brain stimulation for speech rehabilitation and challenges myths about cerebellar function. Scientific Awards : Honors from the Society for Human Brain Mapping and the American Psychological Association. Dr. Fiez has trained doctoral students in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Communication Science and Disorders, as well as numerous undergraduates. She is affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh's Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC), where her lab conducts interdisciplinary studies with implications for education and clinical neuroscience.
Luciano Simone is an Associate Professor at the Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy. He teaches Human Physiology and Research Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience across multiple degree programs, including Biomedical Laboratory Techniques, Medicine and Surgery (6-year program), and Translational Biomedical Sciences.
Dr. Mukesh Dhamala is a Professor of Physics and Neuroscience at Georgia State University's College of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on integrating physics and brain science to improve human health, with expertise in neural mechanisms of decision-making, epilepsy, brain restoration post-stroke, and neuronal network dynamics. Neural mechanisms of human decision-making Epileptic seizures and brain network analysis Rehabilitative treatments and brain restoration Neuronal network oscillations and synchronization Nonlinear dynamics in neural systems His work employs advanced methodologies such as spectral Granger causality for analyzing brain imaging and electrophysiological data. Dr. Dhamala received the prestigious NSF CAREER award in 2010 for his research program on brain network activity during perceptual decision-making. Recent publications highlight trends in brain network analysis applied to diverse contexts including esports, schizophrenia, and stroke rehabilitation. His studies investigate the impact of action video gaming on brain structure, functional connectivity in neurological disorders, and dynamic causal modeling in cognitive tasks. Scientific awards include: NSF CAREER award (2010) Dr. Dhamala's research has been supported by grants related to brain network activity analysis and its clinical applications. He actively publishes in interdisciplinary journals covering neuroscience, computational modeling, and neuroimaging techniques.
Dr. Francisco Barceló Galindo is a Professor of Psychology at the University of the Balearic Islands , where he has held a position since 2010. He earned his PhD in Psychology from the University of Southampton (1993) and has been a leading figure in Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuropsychology, and Psychobiology. Education: Bachelor’s in Psychology (University of Murcia, 1989), PhD in Psychology (University of Southampton, 1993). His research focuses on human cognition using non-invasive brain activity recording techniques (EEG, MEG) combined with neuropsychological assessments to study attention, memory, and decision-making in healthy individuals and patients with brain damage. He has pioneered computational models based on information theory to quantify cognitive novelty across neural processing levels (sensory, motor, sensorimotor). Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals trends in cognitive control mechanisms, task-switching paradigms, prefrontal cortex function, gene-brain interactions (COMT, ANKK1, DAT1), and neuroplasticity in frontal lobe patients. His work spans Q1 journals like Neuron (IF=13.26) and Nature Neuroscience (IF=8.86). Dr. Barceló has secured significant grants, including a €199,065 project from Fundació La Marató de TV3 (2012–2014) and a €69,000 grant from MINECO (2014–2016). He supervises doctoral theses and has directed four completed ones.
Ludwig Huber is a faculty member at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, since 1996. He holds the academic rank of Researcher with a focus on behavioral and cognitive biology across species. Key Research Areas: Behavioral Neuroscience, Social Learning, Animal Behavior, Neuroimaging, Comparative Psychology, and Conservation Biology Huber's publication record spans over 116 works, with recent emphasis on social cognition in canines (2023), nonverbal child psychology (2024), and cross-species neural engagement (2024). His projects include evolutionary psychology research for "Like me" (2012-2016) and physics understanding studies (2009-2012). While no explicit awards are documented here, his 107 conference activities and 7 media engagements (including 2016 coverage of amphibian kin recognition) demonstrate significant academic outreach. Current work continues through 2024 with neuro-cognitive studies in animal behavior.
