In my research, I utilize high-resolution neuroimaging techniques, such as 7 Tesla (7T) MRI, to study the structure and function of the dopaminergic midbrain, with a particular focus on the human ventral tegmental area (VTA). Combining functional MRI (fMRI) with structural imaging methods, including quantitative MRI and diffusion-based techniques like probabilistic tractography, I investigate the anatomy and functional organization of the dopaminergic subcortex.
A central aim of my research is to advance our understanding of the subcortex as a whole, with a specific focus on the dopaminergic midbrain and the striatum. I seek to test whether cognitive functions traditionally localized in subcortical regions through animal studies can be accurately mapped in the human brain.
In my current postdoctoral projects, I employ a range of fMRI analysis methods and joint modeling of behavioral and neural data to explore the subcortex's involvement in cognitive processes such as working memory, risk-taking, reward, and learning.