Matthew Johnson, a research assistant at the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center in Hartford, Connecticut, is being featured in the month of March.

1) What are your research interests?

Right now I'm mainly involved with projects in working memory and social decision-making as explored through fMRI. Side interests include techniques of fMRI data analysis and modeling cognition using methods such as artificial neural networks.

2) What do you like most about what you do/study?

To paraphrase physicist Leon Lederman, the greatest thing about research in general is the feeling you get (often at about 2 in the morning) when you think you've figured out something new, discovered some piece of the puzzle that, for the moment, is known only to you. No matter how small that discovery may be, the feeling can't be beat.

3) What is your most relevant publication and/or presentation?

Right now, we're preparing a paper on fMRI of working memory abnormalities in schizophrenia which should go over well.

4) To date what is your proudest personal or professional achievement?

Just to have had the opportunity to do somewhat self-guided research in something as cool as fMRI, fresh out of college, continues to amaze me... check back in a few years for my actual "achievements" in the field.

5) In your opinion, what are some important issues in cognitive neuroscience?

Going back to the puzzle metaphor, I think we have more of it put together than we sometimes think... the only issue being that everyone's working on a different section of the puzzle. In coming years, I believe it will become increasingly important for us to put together these chunks of knowledge from different disciplines -- neuroimaging, psychology, molecular neuroscience, computer science, linguistics, psychiatry, neurology, etc. -- in order to begin forming a truly holistic model of cognition.

6) Why are you a member of CNS?

I initially joined with the express purpose of presenting at the annual meeting... but of course, the larger reason is that in order to stay abreast of the work being done in the field, it's absolutely vital to be a part of a community which aims to facilitate the sharing of knowledge among its members. Sometimes the best and quickest way to increase the breadth and depth of your knowledge is by coming face to face with many of your colleagues, and being a member of CNS allows me to do that.

7) Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Assuming my showbiz career doesn't take off, I'll hopefully have just finished my Ph.D. and be on my way to a sweet postdoctoral or junior faculty position... so keep a lookout for me.