Todd Braver studies the brain mechanisms by which individuals exert control over their thoughts and behavior, and how this control can break down.
Braver is a cognitive neuroscientist investigating attention, working memory, and cognitive control using a variety of research methods, including behavioral analysis, functional neuroimaging, individual differences, special populations, and computational modeling. His research examines the psychological and neural mechanisms by which people actively maintain information – such as goals, instructions, plans, or specific prior events – for short periods of time, and then use this information to appropriately guide and control their behavior. He is interested in individual differences in these abilities, and how they interact with affect and motivation. A current line of research examines how mindfulness training impacts cognitive control and psychological function, using behavioral and brain imaging measures as well as naturalistic assessments.