My work employs behavioural tasks, mathematical models, network science, information theoretical approaches and machine learning to determine the systems-level mechanisms that govern cognitive function, both in health and disease. Currently, my work focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying altered states of consciousness in healthy volunteers (induced by anaesthetics or psychedelics) and patients who have sustained brain injuries that result in disorders of consciousness (e.g. minimally conscious state). I also use pharmacological fMRI to understand cognitive/affective disorders in traumatic brain injury survivors and how cognitive enhancers may benefit them. More recent research directions include evolutionary perspectives as well as bridging macro- and microscopic levels in neuroscience by investigating associations between brain network organisation and gene expression and studying the influence of brainstem neuromodulator systems on cortical/subcortical networks.
