Research Interests
A. Neuroimaging Studies of Executive Function
Our primary research interests center around using state-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques to examine the role of the prefrontal cortex, as well as other brain regions, in executive function. Across the laboratory we utilize MR specstroscopy to examine levels of neurotransmitters, such as glutamate and GרA; structural MR to examine grey matter morphology (e.g., cortical thickness, surface area) and diffusion methods to examine white matter morphology; resting-state functional MRI to examine brain connectivity and function via both ICA and graph theory approaches, and task-based functional MRI.
The majority of our work employs an interdisciplinary approach using MRI techniques in conjunction with genetics, neurocognitive assesment, and machine learning methods, to evaluate the neural substrate of executive control with an emphasis on the contributions of complex brain networks to behavioral performance.
Some publications related to this work include:
Kim, H., Smolker, H. R., Smith, L. L., Banich, M. T., & Lewis-Peacock, J. A. (2020). Changes to information in working memory depend on distinct removal operations. Nature Communications, 11(1).
Banich, M. T., Smolker, H. R., Snyder, H. R., Lewis-Peacock, J. A., Godinez, D. A., Wager, T. D., & Hankin, B. L.(2019). Turning down the heat: Neural mechanisms of cognitive control for inhibiting task-irrelevant emotional information during adolescence. Neuropsychologia, 125, 93-108.
Smolker, H. R., Friedman, N. P., Hewitt, J. K., & Banich, M. T. (2018). Neuroanatomical Correlates of the Unity and Diversity Model of Executive Function in Young Adults. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12, 283.
Depue, B. E., Orr, J. M., Smolker, H. R., Naaz, F., & Banich, M. T. (2016). The Organization of Right Prefrontal Networks Reveals Common Mechanisms of Inhibitory Regulation Across Cognitive, Emotional, and Motor Processes. Cerebral Cortex, 26(4), 1634–1646.
Reineberg, A. E., & Banich, M. T. (2016). Functional connectivity at rest is sensitive to individual differences in executive function: A network analysis. Human Brain Mapping, 37(8), 2959–2975.
De la Vega, A., Brown, M.S., Snyder, H.R., Singel, D., Munakata, Y., Banich, M.T. (2014). Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 26(11), 2490-2502.
B. Cognition-Emotion Interactions
In addition to studying executive function, we also have a research program aimed at understanding the interface between cognition and emotion. These studies have two foci. One is to investigate how attentional regulation is the same or different for emotional as compared to non-emotional materials. The other investigates how personality influences executive functioning and emotional processes.
Some publications related to this work include:
Mackiewicz Seghete, K. L., Kaiser, R. H., DePrince, A. P., & Banich, M. T. (2017). General and emotion-specific alterations to cognitive control in women with a history of childhood abuse. NeuroImage: Clinical, 16, 151–164.
Godinez, D. A., McRae, K., Andrews-Hanna, J. R., Smolker, H., & Banich, M. T. (2016). Differences in frontal and limbic brain activation in a small sample of monozygotic twin pairs discordant for severe stressful life events. Neurobiology of Stress, 5, 26–36.
Kaiser, R. H., Andrews-Hanna, J. R., Spielberg, J. M., Warren, S. L., Sutton, B. P., Miller, G. A., Heller, W., & Banich, M. T. (2015). Distracted and down: neural mechanisms of affective interference in subclinical depression. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 10(5), 654–663.
C. Adolescent Neurodevelopment
Adolescence is a developmental time period in which the brain is undergoing important changes related to executive function and cognitive control as well as a period of heighted emotion. Our lab examines how such changes in the brain are linked to executive and emotional processes. Currently this work is being performed in our lab, in conjunction with of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and of Brandeis University.
Another portion of our work involves being one of the over twenty leading universities nationally that serves as a site for the ground-breaking Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, which is examining brain development over a 10 year period in over 11,000 individuals starting ages 9-10, and the factors, ranging from exercise to social interactions, that influence such brain development. This work, which a joint-venture with our Institute for Behavioral Genetics, is focused, along with three other universities, on examining brain development in twins. Such an approach provides a powerful approach to disentangling genetic and environmental contributions to brain development.
Some publications related to this work are:
Iacono, W. G., Heath, A. C., Hewitt, J. K., Neale, M. C., Banich, M. T., Luciana, M. M., Madden, P. A., Barch, D. M., & Bjork, J. M. (2018). The utility of twins in developmental cognitive neuroscience research: How twins strengthen the רCD research design. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 32, 30–42.
Luciana, M., Bjork, J. M., Nagel, B. J., Barch, D. M., Gonzalez, R., Nixon, S. J., & Banich, M. T. (2018). Adolescent neurocognitive development and impacts of substance use: Overview of the adolescent brain cognitive development (רCD) baseline neurocognition battery. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 32, 67–79.
Andrews-Hanna, J. R., Mackiewicz Seghete, K. L., Claus, E. D., Burgess, G. C., Ruzic, L., & Banich, M. T. (2011). . PloS one, 6(6), e21598.
D. Atypical Neurocognitive Functioning in Clinical Populations
In addition to studying normative executive function in typically developing populations, we are also interested in characterizing the neural mechanisms behind atypical executive functioning related to clinical issues. Some of our projects investigating executive dysfunction and/or brain morphology in clinical populations have included studies on inhibitory processes in adults with ADHD, decision-making deficits in adolescents with severe substance and conduct problems, and decision-making and brain morphology in combat veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and traumatic brain injuries. We do so by successfully collaborating with a number of treatment providers and clinical researchers.
Some publications related to this work are:
Crowley, T. J., Dalwani, M. S., Sakai, J. T., Raymond, K. M., McWilliams, S. K., Banich, M. T., & Mikulich-Gilbertson, S. K. (2017). Children’s brain activation during risky decision-making: A contributor to substance problems? Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 178, 57–65.
Fogleman, N. D., Naaz, F., Knight, L. K., Stoica, T., Patton, S. C., Olson-Madden, J. H., Barnhart, M. C., Hostetter, T. A., Forster, J., Brenner, L. A., Banich, M. T., & Depue, B. E. (2017). Reduced lateral prefrontal cortical volume is associated with performance on the modified Iowa Gambling Task: A surface based morphometric analysis of previously deployed veterans. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 267, 1–8.
Godinez, D. A., Willcutt, E. G., Burgess, G. C., Depue, B. E., Andrews-Hanna, J. R., & Banich, M. T. (2015). Familial risk and ADHD-specific neural activity revealed by case-control, discordant twin pair design. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 233(3), 458–465.
Tanabe, J., Reynolds, J., Krmpotich, T., Claus, E., Thompson, L. L., Du, Y. P., & Banich, M. T. (2013). . American Journal of Psychiatry, 170(11), 1356–1363.
Banich, M. T., Burgess, G. C., Depue, B. E., Ruzic, L., Bidwell, L. C., Hitt-Laustsen S., Du, Y. P., Willcutt, E. G., (2009). . Neuropsychologia, 47(14), 3095-3104.