Research Projects

Executive functions are crucial cognitive abilities for managing daily life, such as planning, initiating responses, mental flexibility, abstract thinking, and selecting relevant sensory information. Deficits in executive control can significantly impact quality of life. Although the frontal cortex is known to be the seat for executive functions, the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms remain unclear, hindering the development of effective treatment strategies. Executive dysfunction is prevalent in neuropsychiatric disorders, including Parkinson's disease, which is characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia. About 30% of patients manifest cognitive deficits, particularly executive dysfunction, even in the early stages of the disease. Current treatment modalities, such as levodopa and deep brain stimulation, may worsen some aspects of executive control. Non-pharmacological methods, such as cognitive rehabilitation and noninvasive brain stimulation, may be promising adjunct treatment strategies. The proposed work aims to identify functional brain networks associated with specific aspects of executive control and establish their causal role in executive dysfunction observed in patients with Parkinson's disease. The study will examine response inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and decision making using standard behavioral paradigms and high-density electroencephalography. The findings will enhance our understanding of the neurophysiological basis of executive control and contribute to developing non-pharmacological adjunct treatment strategies for executive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.