Kyle Cahill

I am a Physics Ph.D. candidate at Georgia State University, working in Dr. Mukesh Dhamala's neurophysics research group. My goal is to apply the principles of fundamental physics to explore the human brain, offering scientifically grounded insights into our subjective experiences through rigorous, evidence-based methodologies.

My research investigates structural and functional brain connectivity, neural network dynamics, and their relationship with cognitive and behavioral metrics. Specifically, I apply quantitative methods grounded in physical principles to study phenomena such as:

• Executive Functions: Cognitive control, decision-making, problem-solving, and how the brain regulates and adapts to new information.
• Attention & Awareness: How attention and awareness shape our perceptions and interactions, including processes like multisensory integration, where the brain combines information from multiple sensory modalities, and the perception of time, which involves how we experience and become aware of temporal information.
• Memory & Learning: Memory retention, learning processes, state-dependent memory, muscle memory, and habit formation with a focus on how these mechanisms relate to intelligence and adaptive behavior.
• Creativity & Insight: The neural dynamics of creativity and insight, including how the brain generates novel ideas and experiences sudden breakthroughs.
• Conscious States & Wakefulness: The neural mechanisms underlying conscious and unconscious states, including wakefulness, sleep, and comas, and the transitions between these states. This includes investigating how brain connectivity and neural dynamics differ in altered states, such as those induced by meditation or psychedelics, compared to resting state connectivity during normal wakefulness, with the aim to uncover the neural foundations of consciousness.
• Brain & Behavior: The relationship between brain activity and behavior includes phenomena such as embodied cognition, which refers to the interaction between the brain and body that shapes cognitive processes; behaviorally induced neuroplasticity, where changes in behavior can drive structural and functional brain changes; the placebo effect, in which belief, expectation, and emotional affect influence symptom onset and severity, particularly in pain and psychological conditions; and the flow state, marked by the complete immersion of action and awareness, characterized by enhanced cognitive performance, skill development, creativity, and learning outcomes.

When I am not immersed in research, I enjoy walking, playing video games, traveling, and exploring a variety of hobbies and interests.