Dr. Charles Caskey is a biomedical engineer with a long history of developing advanced focused ultrasound technologies for neuromodulation of brain activity. Or lab has a highly productive long collaboration with Dr Caskey to establish event-related, bilateral, ultra-high resolution focused ultrasound (FUS) neuromodulation to enhance cognitive functions.

Banaie Boroujeni K, Sigona MK, Treuting RL, Manuel, TJ, Caskey CF, Womelsdorf T (2022) The anterior cingulate cortex causally supports flexible learning under motivationally challenging and cognitively demanding conditions. PLoS Biology. 20(9), e3001785

Dockum A, Phipps MA, Newman M, Kusunose J, Treuting RL, Neumann A, Womelsdorf T, Caskey C (2024) Image Guidance of a Phased Array Transducer for Neuromodulation with a Small Focal Volume. IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control (UFFC-JS) (pp. 1:5). doi: 10.1109/UFFC-JS60046.2024.10793628

Dr. Tiesinga is a computational neuroscientist with seminal contributions to understand brain network interactions using biologically realistic spiking networks. Our lab has a long history of highly productive collaborations on cell-type specific synchronization ( Womelsdorf et al., 2014 Nat Neurosci ), biophysical modeling of interneuron specific plasticity ( Banaje Boroujeni et al. 2021, eLife ), reinforcement learning modeling of attentional learning ( Womelsdorf et al., 2021, J Cofn Neurosci ), and modeling states the updating of attentional priorities ( Tiesinga & Womelsdorf, 2025, bioRxiv )

Treuting RL, Banaie Boroujeni K, Gerrity CG, Neumann A, Tiesinga P & Womelsdorf T (2025) Adaptive Reinforcement Learning is causally supported by Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Striatum. Neuron; 113, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2025.05.018

Tiesinga P, Womelsdorf T (2025) Parallel Belief States account for Learning and Updating of Attentional Priorities in Multidimensional Environments. 1-24, bioRxiv. doi: 10.1101/2025.09.03.674042

Dr. Carrie Jones is a neuropharmacologist with deep experience of glutamatergic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor regulation of brain function and behavior. Our lab has a long-standing collaboration with Dr. Jones on the behavioral pharmacology of selective muscarinic compounds.

Hassani SA, Neumann A, Russell J, Jones CK, Womelsdorf T (2023) M1 selective muscarinic allosteric modulation enhances cognitive flexibility and effective salience in nonhuman primates. PNAS, Proceedings National Academy of Science, USA. 120(18), e2216792120 doi: 10.1073/pnas.2216792120

Dr. Pawliszyn is a distinguished analytical chemist who pioneered the development of chemical sampling methods such as Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME). He was the first chemist who sampled chemical compounds with SPME from brain tissues. Our lab has a fruitful collaboration with Dr. Pawliszyn on the sampling of multiple neuromodulators and neurotransmitters with Nano – SPME fibers from prefrontal cortices and the striatum in-vivo during cognitive engagement and during different drug treatments.

Hassani SA, Lendor S, Neumann A, Sinha Roy K, Banaie Boroujeni K, Hoffman K, Pawliszyn J, Womelsdorf T (2023). Dose-dependent dissociation of pro-cognitive effects of donepezil on attention and cognitive flexibility in rhesus monkeys Biological Psychiatry GOS. 3(1), p.68-77

Hassani SA, Lendor S, Boyaci E, Pawliszyn J, Womelsdorf T (2019) Multi-Neuromodulator Measurements across Fronto-Striatal Network Areas of the Behaving Macaque using Solid-Phase Microextraction. Journal of Neurophysiology. 122(4):1649-1660 doi: 10.1152/jn.00321.2019