Decisions on the Brain: Neural Dynamics of Valuation and Choice During Human Decision Making
Alison Harris is the Ostby-Cook Associate Professor of Psychology and George R. Roberts Fellow at CMC. As a cognitive neuroscientist, she is interested how brain activity gives rise to complex cognitive behaviors. Her research uses electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERP), along with measures of behavior, to track the timing and dynamics of visual perception and decision making. Combining neurophysiological approaches with advanced statistical and modeling techniques, she has explored how decision making is affected by the interplay of preferences with contextual goals such as losing weight, minimizing physical effort, or choosing for a friend. Her publications have appeared in journals including The Journal of Neuroscience, Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, and Psychological Science. With support from the National Science Foundation, she has trained students in EEG/ERP data collection and analysis in preparation for future careers in medical and research fields.