~ Curriculum Vitae ~

Education

  1. Ph.D. (Cognitive Psychology), Carnegie-Mellon University, 1994
    Committee: James McClelland (Chair), Roberta Klatsky, Jonathan D. Cohen
    Dissertation: Effects of Expectations for Location and Identity in Perception of Visual Displays

  2. M.S. (Cognitive Psychology), Carnegie-Mellon University, 1989
    Committee: James McClelland (Chair), John R. Anderson, Lynne Reder
    Thesis: Blend Errors in Cued Recall

  3. B.S. (Psychology), University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1987


Professional Experience

  1. Lecturer, 2015 - present
    Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University

  2. Director, Scully Center for the Neuroscience of Mind and Behavior, 2013 - present
    Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University

  3. Co-Director, Neuroscience of Cognitive Control Laboratory, 2002 - present
    (with Jonathan D. Cohen, Director)
    Department of Psychology and Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University

  4. Senior Professional Specialist, 2008 - present
    Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University

  5. Senior Professional Specialist, 2006 - 2008
    Center for the Study of Mind, Brain, and Behavior, Princeton University

  6. Senior Technical Staff Member II, 2005 - 2006
    Center for the Study of Mind, Brain, and Behavior, Princeton University

  7. Senior Technical Staff Member I, 2004 - 2005
    Center for the Study of Mind, Brain, and Behavior, Princeton University

  8. Research Staff Scientist, 2000 - 2004
    Center for the Study of Mind, Brain, and Behavior, Princeton University

  9. Research Staff Scientist, 1998 - 2004
    Department of Psychology, Princeton University

  10. Senior Research Principal, 1997 - 1998
    Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

  11. Research Principal, 1996 - 1997
    Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

  12. Visiting Research Associate, 1994 - 1998
    Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University

  13. Senior Research Fellow, 1994 - 1996
    Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center


Journal Articles (Citations h-index: 32, i10-index: 33)

    For many available reprints, see Google Scholar

  1. Krueger P, van Vugt MK, Simen P, Nystrom L, Holmes P, P& Cohen (2017). Evidence accumulation detected in BOLD signal using slow perceptual decision making. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 281, 21–32.

  2. Field BA, Buck CL, McClure SM, Nystrom LE, Kahneman D, & Cohen JD. (2015). Attentional modulation of brain responses to primary appetitive and aversive stimuli. PLoS ONE, 10(7), e0130880, 1–13.

  3. Van Vugt MK, Simen P, Nystrom LE, Holmes P, & Cohen JD. (2014). Lateralized readiness potentials reveal properties of a neural mechanism for implementing a decision threshold. PLoS ONE, 9(3), e90943, 1-13.

  4. Eppinger B, Schuck NW, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2013). Reduced striatal responses to reward prediction errors in older compared to younger adults.  Journal of Neuroscience, 33, 9905-9912.

  5. Todd MT, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2013). Confounds in multivariate pattern analysis: Theory and rule representation case study.  NeuroImage, 77, 157-165.

  6. D'Ardenne K, Eshel N, Luka J, Lenartowicz A, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2012). The role of prefrontal cortex and midbrain dopamine system in working memory updating. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109, 19900–19909.

  7. Eppinger B, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2012). Reduced sensitivity to immediate reward during decision-making in older than younger adults. PLoS ONE, 7(5), e36953, 1-10.

  8. van Vugt MK, Simen P, Nystrom LE, Holmes P, & Cohen JD. (2012). EEG oscillations reveal neural correlates of evidence accumulation. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 6 (106), 1-13.

  9. Greene JD, Cushman FA, Stewart LE, Lowenberg K, Nystrom LE & Cohen JD. (2009). Pushing moral buttons: The interaction between personal force and intention in moral judgment. Cognition, 111, 364–371.

  10. D'Ardenne K, McClure SM, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2008). BOLD responses reflecting dopaminergic signals in the human ventral tegmental area. Science, 319, 1264-1267.

  11. Greene JD, Morelli SA, Lowenberg K, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2008). Cognitive load selectively interferes with utilitarian moral judgment. Cognition, 107, 1144-1154.

  12. Kroger JK, Nystrom LE, Cohen JD, & Johnson-Laird PN. (2008). Distinct neural substrates for deductive and mathematical processing. Brain Research, 1243, 83-103.

  13. Pochon J-B, Riis J, Sanfey AG, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2008). Functional imaging of decision conflict. Journal of Neuroscience, 28, 3468-3473.

  14. Yeung N, Nystrom LE, Aronson JA, & Cohen JD. (2006). Between-task competition and cognitive control in task switching. Journal of Neuroscience, 26, 1429-1438.

  15. Greene JD, Nystrom LE, Engell AD, Darley JM, & Cohen JD. (2004). The neural bases of cognitive conflict and control in moral judgment. Neuron, 44, 389-400.

  16. Holroyd CB, Nieuwenhuis S, Yeung N, Nystrom L, Mars R, Coles MGH, & Cohen JD. (2004). Dorsal anterior cingulate cortex is sensitive to internal and external sources of error information: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Nature Neuroscience, 7, 497-498.

  17. Rilling JK, Sanfey AG, Aronson JA, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2004). The neural correlates of theory of mind within interpersonal interactions. NeuroImage, 22, 1694-1703.

  18. Rilling JK, Sanfey AG, Aronson JA, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2004). Opposing BOLD responses to reciprocated and unreciprocated altruism in putative reward pathways. Neuroreport, 15, 2539-2543.

  19. Sanfey AG, Rilling JK, Aronson JA, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2003). The neural basis of economic decision-making in the ultimatum game. Science, 300, 1755-1758.

  20. Cho RY, Nystrom LE, Brown E, Jones A, Braver TS, Holmes P, & Cohen JD. (2002). Mechanisms underlying performance dependencies on stimulus history in a two-alternative forced choice task. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 2, 283-299.

  21. Jones AD, Cho RY, Nystrom LE, Cohen JD, & Braver TS. (2002). A model of anterior cingulate activity, conflict monitoring, and control adjustments in choice-discrimination tasks. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 2, 300-317.

  22. Casey BJ, Forman SD, Franzen P, Berkowitz A, Braver TS, Nystrom LE, Thomas KM, & Noll DC. (2001). Sensitivity of prefrontal cortex to changes in target probability: A functional MRI study. Human Brain Mapping, 13, 26-33.

  23. Greene JD, Sommerville RB, Nystrom LE, Darley JM, & Cohen JD. (2001). An fMRI investigation of emotional engagement in moral judgment. Science, 293, 2105-2108.

  24. Delgado MR, Nystrom LE, Fissell C, Noll DC, & Fiez JA. (2000). Tracking the hemodynamic responses to reward and punishment in the striatum. Journal of Neurophysiology, 84, 3072-3077.

  25. Nystrom LE, Braver TS, Sabb FW, Delgado MR, Noll DC, & Cohen JD. (2000). Working memory for letters, shapes and locations: fMRI evidence against stimulus-based regional organization in human prefrontal cortex. NeuroImage, 11, 424-446.

  26. Botvinick M, Nystrom L, Fissell K, Carter C, & Cohen JD. (1999). Conflict monitoring vs. selection-for-action in anterior cingulate cortex. Nature, 402, 179-181.

  27. Barch DM, Braver TS, Nystrom LE, Forman SD, Noll DC, & Cohen JD. (1997). Dissociating working memory from effort in human prefrontal cortex. Neuropsychologia, 35, 1373-1380.

  28. Braver TS, Cohen JD, Nystrom LE, Jonides J, Smith EE, & Noll DC. (1997). A parametric study of prefrontal cortex involvement in human working memory. NeuroImage, 5, 49-62.

  29. Casey BJ, Trainor RJ, Orendi JL, Schubert AB, Nystrom LE, Giedd JN, Castellanos X, Haxby J, Noll DC, Cohen JD, Forman S, Dahl RE, & Rapoport JL. (1997). A developmental functional MRI study of prefrontal activation during performance of a go-no-go task. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 9, 835-847.

  30. Cohen JD, Perlstein WM, Braver TS, Nystrom LE, Noll DC, Jonides J, & Smith EE. (1997). Temporal dynamics of brain activation during a working memory task. Nature, 386, 604-608.

  31. Goddard NH, Hood G, Cohen JD, Eddy WF, Genovese CR, Noll DC, & Nystrom LE. (1997). Online analysis of functional MRI datasets on parallel platforms. Journal of Supercomputing, 11, 295-318.

  32. Noll DC, Genovese CR, Nystrom L, Vazquez A, Forman SD, Eddy WF, & Cohen JD. (1997). Estimating test-retest reliability in functional MR imaging II: Application to motor and cognitive activation studies. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 38, 508-517.

  33. Nystrom LE, & McClelland JL. (1992). Trace synthesis in cued recall. Journal of Memory and Language, 31, 591-614.


Book Chapters

  1. Goddard N, Hood G, Cohen JD, Nystrom LE, Eddy WF, Genovese CR, & Noll DC. (2000). Functional MRI datasets analyzed online. Koniges A, (Ed.), Industrial Strength Parallel Computing, (pp. 431-449). Morgan Kaufmann: San Francisco.


Published Abstracts

  1. Krueger P, Van Vugt M, Simen P, Nystrom L, Holmes P, & Cohen J.  (2016). Evidence accumulation detected in BOLD signal using slow perceptual decision making.  Cosyne 2016.

  2. Eppinger B, Nystrom L, & Cohen JD. (2010). Age-related changes in reward sensitivity during decision- making and learning. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

  3. Todd MT, Nystrom LE, Niv Y, & Cohen JD. (2010). Identifying internal representations of context in fMRI. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

  4. Getz SJ, Tomlin D, Nystrom LE, Cohen JD, & Conway ARA. (2010). The effect of working memory load on intertemporal choice. Abstracts of the Psychonomics Society, Volume 15, November 2010.

  5. Simen P, Nystrom L, van Vugt M, Krueger P, & Cohen JD. (2009). Event-related fMRI during slow decision making can reveal temporal structure in neural activity. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

  6. Getz SJ, Tomlin D, Nystrom LE, Cohen JD, & Conway ARA. (2009). Executive control of intertemporal choice: Effects of cognitive load on impulsive decision-making.  Abstracts of the Psychonomics Society, Volume 14, November 2009.

  7. Eshel N, Luka J, Lenartowicz A, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2008). Transiently disrupting right prefrontal cortex interferes with updating working memory. Neuroimage.

  8. Lenartowicz A, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2008). Representation of situational context during preparation in task switching as mediated by task specific and behaviorally significant functional connectivity. Neuroimage.

  9. van den Bos W, McClure SM, Harris LT, Nystrom LE, Fiske ST, & Cohen JD. (2007). Motivational significance of social stimuli contributes to activation in MPFC. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience Supplement.

  10. Greene JD, Paxton JM, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2007). Dissociation between affective and cognitive moral disapproval. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

  11. D'Ardenne K, McClure SM, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2007). BOLD responses in the dopaminergic ventral tegmental area. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

  12. McClure KD, McClure SM, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2006). Functional MRI of midbrain dopamine nuclei. Neuroimage.

  13. Sanfey AG, Pochon J-P, Riis J, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2006). Functional imaging of decision conflict. Neuroimage.

  14. Lenartowicz A, Detre G, Polyn SM, Chein J, Yeung N, Nystrom L, Norman KA, & Cohen JD. (2005). Characterization of brain states during task-switching using a neural network classifier. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience Supplement.

  15. Greene JD, Lowenberg K, Nystrom LE, Darley JM, & Cohen JD. (2005). Saving lives versus keeping promises: an fMRI investigation of consequentialist and deontological moral judgment. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

  16. Rilling JK, Sanfey AG, Aronson JA, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2004). Neural correlates of theory of mind within interpersonal interactions. Neuroimage.

  17. Rilling JK, Sanfey AG, Aronson JA, Nystrom LE, Cohen JD, Gutman D, Zeh T, Pagnoni G, Berns G, & Kilts C. (2004). Imaging the social brain with fMRI and interactive games. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 7, S477-S478.

  18. Polyn SM, Nystrom LE, Norman KA, Haxby JV, Gobbini MI, & Cohen JD. (2004). Using neural network algorithms to investigate distributed patterns of brain activity in fMRI. Neuroimage.

  19. Greene J, Nystrom L, Darley J, & Cohen J. (2003). Neural activity correlated with outcome of moral decision. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience Supplement, 166.

  20. Nieuwenhuis S, Holroyd CB, Yeung N, Nystrom LE, Cohen JD, Mars RB, & Coles MGH. (2003). Neural correlates of reinforcement learning and error processing: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

  21. Greene JD, Nystrom LE, Engell AD, Darley JM, & Cohen JD. (2003). Patterns of neural activity correlated with individual differences in moral judgment. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

  22. Yeung N, Nystrom LE, Aronson JA, & Cohen JD. (2003). Dissociable functions of prefrontal cortex in task switching. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

  23. Yeung, N, Nystrom, L, Kitazono, M, & Cohen, J. (2002). An fMRI study of switching attention between tasks. NeuroImage, 14.

  24. Greene J, Sommerville R, Nystrom L, Darley J, & Cohen J. (2002). Cognitive and affective conflict in moral judgment. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience Supplement, 49.

  25. Nystrom LE, Yeung NP, Kitazono MT, & Cohen JD. (2002). Anterior cingulate activity: From conflict or motor planning? Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

  26. Rilling JK, Sanfey AG, Aronson JA, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2002). Mapping the brain's response to reciprocated and unreciprocated social cooperation. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

  27. Sanfey AG, Rilling JK, Aronson JA, Nystrom LE, & Cohen JD. (2002). An investigation of the neural dynamics of fairness and unfairness. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

  28. Li, TQ, Nystrom, LE, & Cohen, JD. (2001). Ultra-fast trial-based fMRI using amplitude modulated stimuli. NeuroImage, 13, S27.

  29. Cho, RY, Nystrom, LE, Holmes, P, Brown, E, Casey, BJ, & Cohen, JD. (2000). A connectionist model of conflict and control in a forced-choice task. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 26.

  30. Greene, JD, Sommerville, RB, Nystrom, LE, Darley, JM, & Cohen, JD. (2000). Dissociation between categories of moral judgment revealed by fMRI. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 26.

  31. Kroger, JK, Nystrom, LE, Li, T, Holmes, BD, & Cohen, JD. (2000). Differential cortical responses to memory load and representational structure. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience Supplement, 145.

  32. Delgado MR, Fissell K, Nystrom LE, Noll DC, & Fiez JA. (1999). An fMRI study of reward-related activity during a game-playing task. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 25, 2148.

  33. Nystrom LE, Delgado MR, Sabb FW, Noll DC, & Cohen JD. (1998). Dynamics of fMRI: Broca's area activation reflects independent effects of duration and intensity of working memory processes. NeuroImage, 7, S7.

  34. Cohen JD, Nystrom LE, Braver TS, Sabb FW, Delgado MR, and Noll DC. (1998). FMRI studies of the topographic organization of working memory representations in prefrontal cortex. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience Supplement, 87.

  35. Nystrom LE, Delgado MR, Sabb FW, Noll DC, & Cohen JD. (1998). Dynamics of fMRI activation under manipulations of duration and intensity of working memory processes in the Sternberg task. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience Supplement, 86.

  36. Chein JM, Noll DC, Cohen JD, Fissell K, Nystrom LE, Sabb F, & Fiez JA. (1998). An fMRI study of verbal working memory: Effects of length lexicality, and phonological similarity. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 24, 1896.

  37. Barch DM, Braver TS, Nystrom LE, Noll DC & Cohen, JD. (1997). Activation of prefrontal cortex by the representation and maintenance of context information. Schizophrenia Research, 24, 163.

  38. Braver TS, Barch DM, Nystrom LE, Forman SD, Noll DC, & Cohen JD. (1997). Dissociating working memory from effort in human prefrontal cortex. NeuroImage, 5, S64.

  39. Casey BJ, Badgaiyan RD, Franzen PL, King SW, Kye C, Schubert AB, Nystrom LE, & Noll DC. (1997). Prefrontal activation as a function of response set. NeuroImage, 5, S602.

  40. Casey BJ, Cohen JD, King SW, Franzen PL, Nystrom LE, Badgaiyan RD, Schubert AB, & Noll DC. (1997). A developmental functional MRI study of cortical activation during a spatial working memory task. NeuroImage, 5, S69.

  41. Cohen JD, Nystrom LE, Sabb FW , Braver TS, & Noll DC. (1997). Tracking the dynamics of fMRI activation in humans under manipulations of duration and intensity of working memory processes. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 23, 1678.

  42. Braver TS, Cohen JD, Nystrom LE, Jonides J, Smith EE, & Noll DC. (1996). A parametric study of prefrontal cortex involvement in human working memory. NeuroImage, 3, S532.

  43. Casey BJ, Cohen JD, Trainor RJ, Nah GE, Nystrom LE, Orendi JL, Schubert AB, & Noll DC. (1996). A functional MRI study of hierarchical cortical activation as a function of task complexity. NeuroImage, 3, S536.

  44. Casey BJ, Trainor RJ, Orendi JL, Schubert AB, Nystrom LE, Cohen JD, & Noll DC. (1996). A pediatric functional MRI study of prefrontal activation during performance of a go-no-go task. NeuroImage, 3, S593.

  45. Cohen JD, Noll DC, & Nystrom LE. (1995). Qualitative and quantitative assessment of test-retest reliability of functional MRI data. Proceedings of the Third Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Magnetic Resonance, 234.

  46. Nystrom LE, & McClelland JL. (1991). Blend errors during cued recall. Proceedings of the Thirteenth Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 185-190.


Service

  1. Director, Summer Research Internship Programs
    Princeton Neuroscience Institute (2013 – present)
    multiple cognitive neuroscience labs (2011 – 2012)
    Neuroscience of Cognitive Control Laboratory (2006 – 2012)

  2. Member, Institutional Review Board
    Princeton University (2013 – present)

  3. Ad-hoc Journal Referee
    Science
    Nature Neuroscience
    Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience
    Neuron
    Journal of Neuroscience
    Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience


Classes Taught

  1. “NEU 502B: From Molecules to Systems to Behavior”
    First-year graduate lab course covering connectionist modeling, fMRI, and EEG methods
    Princeton Neuroscience Institute
    Princeton University, Spring 2014 - present

  2. “Introduction to fMRI experimental design and analysis”
    Center for the Study of Brain, Mind and Behavior
    Princeton University, September, 1999 – 2008 annually

  3. “Introduction to fMRI experimental design”
    John Merck Fund Summer Institute on the Biology of Developmental Disabilities
    Princeton University, July, 2004, 2005


Statement of Interest

  1. My earliest interests centered on the interplay between three major cognitive systems: attention, perception, and memory. My Master's thesis investigated the blending of similar memory traces during cued recall, with experimental data simulated by a connectionist model of memory. My Ph.D. research involved a complex empirical phenomenon, the attentional capture effects of expectation violations in visual perception.

  2. For the past 27 years, I have used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neurophysiological foundations of working memory, higher-level attention, and cognitive control. Anatomically, I have focused primarily on the functions of the prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate, and the midbrain/brainstem catecholaminergic nuclei. I have also explored the interactions between cognition, affect, and motivation during economic and social decision making. I have also combined electroencephalography (EEG) with fMRI using a scanner-safe EEG system and simultaneous data acquisition techniques.

  3. In addition, I have been involved in attempts to validate and improve upon current statistical analysis techniques used in neuroimaging. After contributing to the development of the NIS (NeuroImaging Software) suite of fMRI analysis programs (see http://kraepelin.wpic.pitt.edu/nis/index.html), I have continued to maintain an active interest in developing or evaluating software for the analysis and visualization of neuroimaging data. In service of this pursuit, I have given annual tutorials at Princeton University on the design and analysis of fMRI studies, and frequently consult with colleagues to help them develop experimental protocols and to better analyze their neuroimaging data.


Research Support

  1. Key Personnel, 2019-2022
    "Toward a Scientific Understanding of the Human Capacity for Autonomy"
    The John Templeton Foundation, Grant #61454

  2. Key Personnel, 2012-2018
    "Toward a Scientific Understanding of the Human Capacity for Cognitive Control"
    The John Templeton Foundation, Grant #36751, #57876

  3. Key Personnel, 2011-2013
    "Behavioral and fMRI Studies of Economic Preference"
    National Institute of Aging, P30AG024361

  4. Key Personnel, 2007-2012
    "Dynamic Decision Making in Complex Task Environments: Principles and Neural Mechanisms"
    Air Force Office of Scientific Research, MURI FA9550-07-1-0537

  5. Key Personnel, 2006-2012
    "Neural Mechanisms and Social Influence in Delay Discounting and Impulsive Choice"
    National Institute of Aging, R01AG030310

  6. Co-PI, 2004-2011
    "Behavioral and Neuroscientific Studies of Attention and Emotion in Buddhist Adepts"
    Mind and Life Institute Research Award

  7. Co-PI, 2000-2005; Co-Investigator, 2005-2011
    "Cognitive and Neural Mechanisms of Decision and Control"
    National Institute of Mental Health, P50MH62196

  8. Key Personnel, 1996-2002; Co-Investigator, 2003-2008
    "Functional MRI Studies of Prefrontal Cortex"
    National Institute of Mental Health, R01MH052864

  9. Key Personnel, 2002-2007
    "Framework for Modeling Human Cognition Mechanisms of Cognitive Control"
    National Institute of Mental Health, P50MH64445