Our research examines the neural mechanisms that underlie flexible behavior and cognition. 

We are interested in how humans carry out and maintain goal-directed behaviors and how the brain reacts to sudden events that put their goals in peril (such as unexpected events or action errors).

^{Wessel & Aron, Neuron 2017}

We investigate the dynamic interplay between brain networks that subserve: 
   - The monitoring of the external and internal environment. 
   - The evaluation of action outcomes. 
   - The adaptation of ongoing behavior and cognition in the short and long term.

^{Wessel, Psychophysiology 2018}

We use a variety of methods to study these questions, including (but not limited to): 
   - Scalp-recorded Electroencephalography (EEG). 
   - Invasive recordings of brain activity (ECoG and DBS-LFP recordings). 
   - Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). 
   - Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). 
   - Computational modeling. 
   - Pupil tracking.

Finally, we study how pathological processes, brain lesions, and (ab)normal aging affect these networks.