Using neuroimaging (fMRI/PET/EEG), psychosocial and physiological measures (heart rate variability, skin conductance, cortisol, etc.), as well as genetic analysis, my research covers the topics in cognitive, affective, social, cultural, educational and developmental neuroscience and psychology, psych-physiology, body-mind medicine, prevention science, computational neuroscience, neuroergonomics and neuroscience of leadership.
My Basic Research focuses on understanding and optimizing brain functioning and behavior over the lifespan. For instance, how brain processes information, makes decision and drives behavior associated with health and disease; how experiences (learning or training) affect brain processing and reshape brain networks that support paying attention, cognitive function (working memory, creativity, implicit learning), emotion regulation, executive control, decision making and successful aging. My Translational Research focuses on developing and applying new preventive intervention techniques for behavioral problems and mental disorders across the lifespan. I developed a novel mindfulness based preventive intervention - Integrative Body-Mind Training (IBMT) in 1990s and have examined its effects in a series of randomized clinical trials in healthy and patient populations. Research indicate that IBMT reduces stress, improves attention and performance, emotion regulation and immune function, social behavior and neuroplasticity over the life span, which has potential reducing or preventing various mental disorders. My translational work has been applied to stress reduction, learning difficulties, ADHD, MCI and cognitive decline, aging, mood disorders and addictions associated with self-control deficits. As we understand better the mechanisms underlying brain development and neuroplasticity, it is increasingly possible to develop effective training methods to improve and optimize brain functioning, cognitive, emotional and social capacities, and prevent behavioral problems and mental disorders over the lifespan.
