Research 

We study how the human brain makes sense of the complex, multisensory world around us. Our research is curiosity-driven and spans from basic questions about how we see, to predicting higher-level cognitive functions like attention and memory.
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To do this, we use a mix of brain imaging techniques (like fMRI, DTI, and EEG), behavioral experiments, and computational modeling. We also use rich, realistic audiovisual stimuli—including virtual reality—to better understand brain function in environments that closely resemble everyday life.

Understanding shared and distinct patterns of brain activity

We use advanced brain imaging tools to understand how people’s brains respond to rich, real-life experiences like watching movies or listening to stories. One of our main techniques is intersubject correlation (ISC), which measures how similarly different people's brains react over time to the same experience. This helps us explore how shared experiences shape brain activity—and how differences in this synchrony relate to things like stress, mood, or migraines.
We also use a method called functional connectivity multivariate pattern analysis (fc-MVPA). This allows us to detect patterns in how brain regions communicate, helping us tell apart different mental states or individual differences. By combining these methods, we can uncover both what people’s brains have in common and what makes each person unique.

ISC results for migraineurs (red) and controls (blue) in response to a negative valence audiovisual film. From Klamer et al., (2025), The Journal of Headache and Pain. thejournalofheadacheandpain.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s10194-025-01993-6

Predicting function from structure

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From Ekstrand et al., (2020), ​NeuroImage
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811920304948

Our lab uses computational modeling to explore how the brain’s wiring supports its function. We create models that link structural connections in the brain—measured with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)—to patterns of brain activity during thinking and decision-making tasks.
We also use graph theory to study these complex brain networks, helping us understand how structure shapes function. These tools give us new insight into how individual differences in brain wiring can lead to different patterns of brain activity.

​CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience              
Science Commons            
4401 University Dr W    
Lethbridge, AB, Canada