University of Iowa · PsychologyCognition Adaptation Lab
Kai Hwang · Iowa City, Iowa
Research Focus
Dr. Kai Hwang's research at the University of Iowa focuses on how specific brain structures, particularly the mediodorsal thalamus, influence our ability to adapt our thinking and behaviors to changing environments. By studying the neural mechanisms of cognitive flexibility, this lab aims to advance our understanding of cognitive disorders like schizophrenia and ADHD. The findings could improve diagnostic and treatment approaches for these conditions, ultimately benefiting public health.
mediodorsal thalamuscognitive flexibilitypsychological disordersNeuroimagingcomputational models
Research Aims
3AIM 01Determine how the MD thalamus encodes context representations for task selection.
AIM 02Investigate how the MD thalamus encodes prediction errors for flexible task switching.
AIM 03Examine how MD context representations support generalization in decision-making.
Skills the Lab Values
fMRIcomputational modelingneuroimaging data analysisbehavioral experimentsdata visualization
Output against the department
Publications174top 41% of dept.122nd of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations8.9ktop 33% of dept.97th of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.