{"id":4,"date":"2022-11-02T18:09:55","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T18:09:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cenec\/?page_id=4"},"modified":"2025-04-01T19:19:45","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T02:19:45","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cenec\/","title":{"rendered":"The CeNEC lab"},"content":{"rendered":" \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n
\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n

\n Exploring the A-Z of social cognitive neuroscience\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n

The Center for the Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition (CeNEC), formerly known as the A-Z Lab, explores the idea that rudimentary sensory-motor areas may be intrinsically involved in processing aspects of higher cognition such as language, thought, emotions, empathy, and social communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n

\n \n
\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n\n \n
\n\n \n

\n Explore our current studies\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n
\n\n \n

Read about the various ongoing studies at the CeNEC lab<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n
\n\n \n \n \n
\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n <\/a>\n \n\n<\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n \n Relationship between the Gut Microbiome, the Brain, and Behavior\n\n <\/a>\n <\/h3>\n \n \n
\n\n \n

The gut has three times more neurons than the spinal cord, and most of those connections send information from the gut to the brain. Much of the signaling in the gut comes from metabolites produced by the gut microbiome. However the relationship between the gut microbiome, the brain, and behavior is poorly understood. Here we try to better understand this relationship in both typically developing individuals as well as individuals with ASD. This work was supported by a grant from the Department of Defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n\n \n \n \n
\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n <\/a>\n \n\n<\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n \n AI Tropes and the Human Mind: A Neuroscience Perspective\n\n <\/a>\n <\/h3>\n \n \n
\n\n \n

While the advent of AI, such as Google Gemini and ChatGPT,\u00a0 will undoubtedly result in numerous benefits, it also brings growing concerns. The purpose of this project address a subset of concerns from the perspective of neurobiology in the form of experimental studies and analyses. The goal is to answer the following questions:<\/p>\n

\n

Do the concerns have any merit?<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is the likely origin of the concerns?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Assuming the concerns are well founded, what can be done to counter them?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Approaching AI concerns from a scientific perspective is a strong framework to better understand them and, hopefully, ameliorate them. Furthermore, a better understanding of these issues will help AI remain a safe operating space. The long-term goal is to help determine AI designs that don\u2019t impinge on users\u2019 feelings of privacy, trust, and attribution of mind\/feelings to AI. Another important goal is to help design AIs that are powerful and important tools, without impinging on users\u2019 feelings of lack of competence, meaning, and purpose in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n\n \n \n \n
\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n <\/a>\n \n\n<\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n \n Otherness and Belonging\n\n <\/a>\n <\/h3>\n \n \n
\n\n \n

Belonging is a fundamental relationship grounded in the interaction between an organism and its world. It is always a multi-directional relation where the world includes the social, physical, emotional, and cultural environment available to the organism. For human beings, belonging is a critical factor both in the creation and in the perception of meaning in life. It is just as important as food or water for our survival and well-being. A lack of belonging is an existential breakage in a human being\u2019s relationship to their environment and to the world and is a fundamental human need (Maslow, 1943).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n\n \n \n \n
\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n <\/a>\n \n\n<\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n \n Embodied Semantics and Communication\n\n <\/a>\n <\/h3>\n \n \n
\n\n \n
\n

Most of our metaphors are embodied: we \u201chandle\u201d situations; we \u201ckick-off\u201d a new year; we \u201cchew over\u201d decisions. Using fMRI and behavioral studies we explore how language processing involves sensorimotor brain representations. We investigate both literal and metaphorical language. This work has been funded by IARPA and NIH.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n\n \n \n \n
\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n <\/a>\n \n\n<\/div>\n \n
\n \n

\n \n \n From Sensory-Motor to Social in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)\n\n <\/a>\n <\/h3>\n \n \n
\n\n \n

Children with ASD often have both motor and sensory deficits in addition to the social deficits that are the hallmark of the disorder. However the neurological basis of how those sensorimotor deficits relate to the core social deficits is poorly understood. Here we compare motor deficits in ASD to motor deficits in Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Similarly, we compare sensory deficits in ASD to sensory deficits in Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). In this way, we hope to better understand the relationship between sensory-motor processing to social deficits in ASD. This work was supported by an NIH R01 grant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n
\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n

\n Neuroimaging techniques\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n

The CeNEC <\/a>examines social cognitive neuroscience questions through the utilization of brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)<\/em><\/strong>, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)<\/strong><\/em>, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)<\/em><\/strong>, and electroencephalography (EEG)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n

\n \n
\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n
\n \n \n
\n\n \n

\n Interested in being a Research Assistant at the lab?\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n
\n\n \n

Please fill out this form if you are interested as working as a volunteer at the CeNEC lab<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n \n
\n\n \n \n \n\n Volunteer Research Assistant Interest Form \n <\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n
\n \n \n
\n\n \n

\n Interested in being a participant at the lab?\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n
\n\n \n

Please fill out these forms if you are interested in being a participant for any studies you are eligible for at the CeNEC lab!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n \n
\n\n \n \n \n\n USC CeNEC Social Inclusion Study Interest Form \n <\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n \n \n\n Sensory motor and social effects in ASD \n <\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n\n \n
\n\n \n Location<\/span>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n

\n The Brain and Creativity Institute\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n

The CeNEC operates at the Brain and Creativity Institute located at USC’s University Park Campus just 3 miles from downtown Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n

\n \n
\n\n \n \n \n\n Explore the BCI here! \n <\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n
\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n

\n Principal Investigator\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n

Dr. Lisa Aziz-Zadeh is a Professor at the Brain and Creativity Institute, the Department of Psychology, and the Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern California (USC). She is the director of the USC Center for the Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n

\n\n \n \n \n\n More people in the CeNEC lab \n <\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n
\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n\n \n
\n\n \n

\n Learn more about the lab\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n\n \n \n \n
\n