Menu

Department
  • MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit
    • Research Theme Neurons, Circuits and Networks Adaptive Brain Computations
    Back

    Professor John Duncan

    University Position
    Professor

    Interests

    Brain basis for attention, intelligence and cognitive control; including studies of normal cognition and behaviour, impairments following brain damage, functional brain imaging, and single cell electrophysiology. For John Duncan's popular science book How Intelligence Happens see http://www.howintelligencehappens.com/

    Associated News Items

    Key Publications

    Neural Contributions to Reduced Fluid Intelligence across the Adult Lifespan.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0148-22.2022
    Journal: J Neurosci
    E-pub date: 11 Jan 2023
    Authors: DJ Mitchell, ALS Mousley, MA Shafto, Cam-CAN, J Duncan

    Causal Contributions of the Domain-General (Multiple Demand) and the Language-Selective Brain Networks to Perceptual and Semantic Challenges in Speech Comprehension.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1162/nol_a_00081
    Journal: Neurobiol Lang (Camb)
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2022
    Authors: LJ MacGregor, RA Gilbert, Z Balewski, DJ Mitchell, SW Erzinçlioğlu, JM Rodd, J Duncan, E Fedorenko, MH Davis

    Roles of the Default Mode and Multiple-Demand Networks in Naturalistic versus Symbolic Decisions.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1888-20.2020
    Journal: J Neurosci
    E-pub date: 10 Mar 2021
    Authors: V Smith, J Duncan, DJ Mitchell

    Integrated Intelligence from Distributed Brain Activity.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2020.06.012
    Journal: Trends Cogn Sci
    E-pub date: 1 Oct 2020
    Authors: J Duncan, M Assem, S Shashidhara

    Hierarchical Representation of Multistep Tasks in Multiple-Demand and Default Mode Networks.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0594-20.2020
    Journal: J Neurosci
    E-pub date: 30 Sep 2020
    Authors: T Wen, J Duncan, DJ Mitchell

    A Domain-General Cognitive Core Defined in Multimodally Parcellated Human Cortex.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaa023
    Journal: Cereb Cortex
    E-pub date: 30 Jun 2020
    Authors: M Assem, MF Glasser, DC Van Essen, J Duncan

    The time-course of component processes of selective attention.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.05.067
    Journal: Neuroimage
    E-pub date: 1 Oct 2019
    Authors: T Wen, J Duncan, DJ Mitchell

    Role of the Default Mode Network in Cognitive Transitions.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhy167
    Journal: Cereb Cortex
    E-pub date: 1 Oct 2018
    Authors: V Smith, DJ Mitchell, J Duncan

    The multiple-demand system but not the language system supports fluid intelligence.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-017-0282-3
    Journal: Nat Hum Behav
    E-pub date: 1 Mar 2018
    Authors: A Woolgar, J Duncan, F Manes, E Fedorenko

    Complexity and compositionality in fluid intelligence.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1621147114
    Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
    E-pub date: 16 May 2017
    Authors: J Duncan, D Chylinski, DJ Mitchell, A Bhandari

    A Putative Multiple-Demand System in the Macaque Brain.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0810-16.2016
    Journal: J Neurosci
    E-pub date: 17 Aug 2016
    Authors: DJ Mitchell, AH Bell, MJ Buckley, AS Mitchell, J Sallet, J Duncan

    Encoding strategies dissociate prefrontal activity from working memory demand.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/s0896-6273(02)01171-6
    Journal: Neuron
    E-pub date: 23 Jan 2003
    Authors: D Bor, J Duncan, RJ Wiseman, AM Owen

    Publications

    Structural connectivity of the multiple demand network in humans and comparison to the macaque brain.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhad314
    Journal: Cereb Cortex
    E-pub date: 4 Nov 2023
    Authors: K Karadachka, M Assem, DJ Mitchell, J Duncan, WP Medendorp, RB Mars

    Parental Scaffolding during Book-Sharing Predicts Child General Intelligence.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-023-02262-w
    Journal: Psychon Bull Rev
    E-pub date: 1 Oct 2023
    Authors: J Duncan, E Phillips, DJ Mitchell, PJ Cooper, L Murray

    Ignorance is bliss: effects of noise and metabolic cost on cortical task representations

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1101/2023.07.11.548492
    Journal:
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2023
    Authors: J Stroud, M Wójcik, K Jensen, M Kusunoki, M Kadohisa, J Duncan, M Stokes, M Lengyel

    Dynamic layer-specific processing in the prefrontal cortex during working memory

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.27.564330
    Journal:
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2023
    Authors: JK Degutis, D Chaimow, D Haenelt, M Assem, J Duncan, J-D Haynes, N Weiskopf, R Lorenz

    Cognitive segmentation and fluid reasoning in childhood.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/17470218221116054
    Journal: Q J Exp Psychol (Hove)
    E-pub date: 1 Jun 2023
    Authors: S O'Brien, DJ Mitchell, J Duncan, J Holmes

    Lifespan differences in visual short-term memory load-modulated functional connectivity.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119982
    Journal: Neuroimage
    E-pub date: 15 Apr 2023
    Authors: S Lugtmeijer, L Geerligs, KA Tsvetanov, DJ Mitchell, Cam-Can, KL Campbell

    High gamma activity distinguishes frontal cognitive control regions from adjacent cortical networks.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2022.12.007
    Journal: Cortex
    E-pub date: 1 Feb 2023
    Authors: M Assem, MG Hart, P Coelho, R Romero-Garcia, A McDonald, E Woodberry, RC Morris, SJ Price, J Suckling, T Santarius, J Duncan, Y Erez

    Frontal and temporal coding dynamics in successive steps of complex behavior.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.11.004
    Journal: Neuron
    E-pub date: 1 Feb 2023
    Authors: M Kadohisa, M Kusunoki, DJ Mitchell, C Bhatia, MJ Buckley, J Duncan

    Mapping neurotransmitter systems to the structural and functional organization of the human neocortex.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-022-01186-3
    Journal: Nat Neurosci
    E-pub date: 1 Nov 2022
    Authors: JY Hansen, G Shafiei, RD Markello, K Smart, SML Cox, M Nørgaard, V Beliveau, Y Wu, J-D Gallezot, É Aumont, S Servaes, SG Scala, JM DuBois, G Wainstein, G Bezgin, T Funck, TW Schmitz, RN Spreng, M Galovic, MJ Koepp, JS Duncan, JP Coles, TD Fryer, FI Aigbirhio, CJ McGinnity, A Hammers, J-P Soucy, S Baillet, S Guimond, J Hietala, M-A Bedard, M Leyton, E Kobayashi, P Rosa-Neto, M Ganz, GM Knudsen, N Palomero-Gallagher, JM Shine, RE Carson, L Tuominen, A Dagher, B Misic

    Causal Evidence for the Multiple Demand Network in Change Detection: Auditory Mismatch Magnetoencephalography across Focal Neurodegenerative Diseases.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1622-21.2022
    Journal: J Neurosci
    E-pub date: 13 Apr 2022
    Authors: TE Cope, LE Hughes, HN Phillips, NE Adams, A Jafarian, D Nesbitt, M Assem, A Woolgar, J Duncan, JB Rowe

    Fluid intelligence and naturalistic task impairments after focal brain lesions.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2021.09.020
    Journal: Cortex
    E-pub date: 1 Jan 2022
    Authors: V Smith, C Pinasco, J Achterberg, DJ Mitchell, T Das, M Roca, J Duncan

    Intraoperative mapping of executive function using electrocorticography for patients with low-grade gliomas.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-020-04646-6
    Journal: Acta Neurochir (Wien)
    E-pub date: 1 May 2021
    Authors: Y Erez, M Assem, P Coelho, R Romero-Garcia, M Owen, A McDonald, E Woodberry, RC Morris, SJ Price, J Suckling, J Duncan, MG Hart, T Santarius

    The Functional Convergence and Heterogeneity of Social, Episodic, and Self-Referential Thought in the Default Mode Network.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaa166
    Journal: Cereb Cortex
    E-pub date: 1 Oct 2020
    Authors: T Wen, DJ Mitchell, J Duncan

    The effect of rule retrieval on activity in the default mode network.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116088
    Journal: Neuroimage
    E-pub date: 15 Nov 2019
    Authors: V Smith, DJ Mitchell, J Duncan

    Progressive Recruitment of the Frontoparietal Multiple-demand System with Increased Task Complexity, Time Pressure, and Reward.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_01440
    Journal: J Cogn Neurosci
    E-pub date: 1 Nov 2019
    Authors: S Shashidhara, DJ Mitchell, Y Erez, J Duncan

    Response of the multiple-demand network during simple stimulus discriminations.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.05.019
    Journal: Neuroimage
    E-pub date: 15 Aug 2018
    Authors: T Wen, DJ Mitchell, J Duncan

    Fluid Intelligence Predicts Novel Rule Implementation in a Distributed Frontoparietal Control Network.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2478-16.2017
    Journal: J Neurosci
    E-pub date: 3 May 2017
    Authors: N Tschentscher, D Mitchell, J Duncan

    Neural Coding for Instruction-Based Task Sets in Human Frontoparietal and Visual Cortex.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhw032
    Journal: Cereb Cortex
    E-pub date: 1 Mar 2017
    Authors: PS Muhle-Karbe, J Duncan, W De Baene, DJ Mitchell, M Brass

    Coding of Visual, Auditory, Rule, and Response Information in the Brain: 10 Years of Multivoxel Pattern Analysis.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00981
    Journal: J Cogn Neurosci
    E-pub date: 1 Oct 2016
    Authors: A Woolgar, J Jackson, J Duncan

    Task Encoding across the Multiple Demand Cortex Is Consistent with a Frontoparietal and Cingulo-Opercular Dual Networks Distinction.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4590-15.2016
    Journal: J Neurosci
    E-pub date: 8 Jun 2016
    Authors: BM Crittenden, DJ Mitchell, J Duncan

    Training refines brain representations for multitasking.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1518636112
    Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
    E-pub date: 17 Nov 2015
    Authors: J Duncan, DJ Mitchell

    Concurrent brain responses to separate auditory and visual targets.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1152/jn.01050.2014
    Journal: J Neurophysiol
    E-pub date: 31 Aug 2015
    Authors: P Finoia, DJ Mitchell, O Hauk, C Beste, V Pizzella, J Duncan

    Recruitment of the default mode network during a demanding act of executive control.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06481
    Journal: Elife
    E-pub date: 13 Apr 2015
    Authors: BM Crittenden, DJ Mitchell, J Duncan

    Distinct aspects of frontal lobe structure mediate age-related differences in fluid intelligence and multitasking.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms6658
    Journal: Nat Commun
    E-pub date: 18 Dec 2014
    Authors: RA Kievit, SW Davis, DJ Mitchell, JR Taylor, J Duncan, Cam-CAN Research Team, RNA Henson, Cam-CAN Research Team

    Global increase in task-related fronto-parietal activity after focal frontal lobe lesion.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00432
    Journal: J Cogn Neurosci
    E-pub date: 1 Sep 2013
    Authors: A Woolgar, D Bor, J Duncan

    Hierarchical organization of cognition reflected in distributed frontoparietal activity.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0598-12.2012
    Journal: J Neurosci
    E-pub date: 28 Nov 2012
    Authors: AA Farooqui, D Mitchell, R Thompson, J Duncan

    The role of Area 10 (BA10) in human multitasking and in social cognition: a lesion study.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.09.003
    Journal: Neuropsychologia
    E-pub date: 1 Nov 2011
    Authors: M Roca, T Torralva, E Gleichgerrcht, A Woolgar, R Thompson, J Duncan, F Manes

    Adaptive coding of task-relevant information in human frontoparietal cortex.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2616-11.2011
    Journal: J Neurosci
    E-pub date: 12 Oct 2011
    Authors: A Woolgar, A Hampshire, R Thompson, J Duncan

    Multi-voxel coding of stimuli, rules, and responses in human frontoparietal cortex.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.04.035
    Journal: Neuroimage
    E-pub date: 15 May 2011
    Authors: A Woolgar, R Thompson, D Bor, J Duncan

    Executive function and fluid intelligence after frontal lobe lesions

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awp269
    Journal: Brain
    E-pub date: 1 Jan 2010
    Authors: M Roca, A Parr, R Thompson, A Woolgar, T Torralva, N Antoun, F Manes, J Duncan

    Discrete object representation, attention switching, and task difficulty in the parietal lobe.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2009.21194
    Journal: J Cogn Neurosci
    E-pub date: 1 Jan 2010
    Authors: R Cusack, DJ Mitchell, J Duncan

    Goal neglect and Spearman’s g: competing parts of a complex task.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1037/0096-3445.137.1.131
    Journal: J Exp Psychol Gen
    E-pub date: 1 Feb 2008
    Authors: J Duncan, A Parr, A Woolgar, R Thompson, P Bright, S Cox, S Bishop, I Nimmo-Smith

    Frontal lobe involvement in spatial span: converging studies of normal and impaired function.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2005.05.010
    Journal: Neuropsychologia
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2006
    Authors: D Bor, J Duncan, ACH Lee, A Parr, AM Owen

    The role of spatial configuration in tests of working memory explored with functional neuroimaging.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9450.00232
    Journal: Scand J Psychol
    E-pub date: 1 Jul 2001
    Authors: D Bor, J Duncan, AM Owen

    A neural basis for general intelligence.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1126/science.289.5478.457
    Journal: Science
    E-pub date: 21 Jul 2000
    Authors: J Duncan, RJ Seitz, J Kolodny, D Bor, H Herzog, A Ahmed, FN Newell, H Emslie