Earl K. Miller, Ph.D.

Research

The Miller lab investigates the brain's executive function, which organizes thoughts and directs them toward goals. The lab examines how the brain learns rules, how attention is focused and how thoughts are held “in mind”. The executive function implements the mental flexibility needed to make sense of a complex and dynamic world. By examining the role that the pre-frontal cortex plays in executive functions, Miller and his lab are providing important insights that potentially have a far-reaching impact, and also are highly consequential to our daily lives. Knowing the functions and limitations of this part of the brain could prove crucial in understanding brain disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.