Brain-body coupling
How do eye movements and other bodily rhythms optimally orchestrate neural computation in the human brain to support cognitive function?
Research
Translational cognitive neuroscience
I study how bodily rhythms structure the neural dynamics of human cognition and translate this knowledge into closed-loop neurotechnology for addressing cognitive dysfunction.
Google Scholar ResearchGate LinkedInNeurotechnology for cognitive health
Neurotechnology to sense, decode, and intervene with the nervous system at the right time for preserving, restoring, or augmenting cognitive function.
Systems and computational methods
Record, analyze, and interpret multimodal neural and behavioral signals, including human electrophysiology, neuroimaging, speech acoustics, and eye tracking.
Brain-body coupling
Eye movements, heartbeat, and other bodily rhythms structure the neural dynamics of human cognition. Earlier work on EEG dynamics during meditation and attention established a foundation for later questions about how endogenous rhythms shape cognition.
Saccade-related evoked potentials support visual encoding in humans.
Tan, G., Demarest, P., Li, Y., Cho, H., Park, H., Swift, J. R., Inman, C. S., Manns, J. R., Hamann, S. B., Liu, X., Wahlstrom, K. L., Li, Z., Hollearn, M. K., Campbell, J. M., Cettina, P. E., Sivakumar, S. S., Leuthardt, E. C., Willie, J. T., & Brunner, P. (2025). Mind's eye: Saccade-related evoked potentials support visual encoding in humans. medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.11.11.25339896
A Trend on Autism Spectrum Disorder Research: Eye Tracking-EEG Correlative Analytics.
G. Tan, K. Xu, J. Liu and H. Liu, "A Trend on Autism Spectrum Disorder Research: Eye Tracking-EEG Correlative Analytics," in IEEE Transactions on Cognitive and Developmental Systems, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 1232-1244, Sept. 2022, doi: 10.1109/TCDS.2021.3102646.
Neurotechnology for cognitive health
Cognitive dysfunction in aging and acquired brain injury is an increasingly urgent challenge as the population ages. To address this challenge, I develop (1) translational neuromodulation to preserve and restore function by engaging existing neural circuitry and (2) brain-computer interface (BCI) to decode, supplement, or replace neural processing for cognition.
A systematic review of focused ultrasound neuromodulation for major depressive disorder across clinical trials and animal model studies.
Tan, G., Chen, H., & Leuthardt, E. C. (2026). Ultrasound Applications in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review of Techniques and Therapeutic Potentials in Clinical Trials and Animal Model Studies. Neuromodulation, 29(2), 187-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurom.2025.08.001
A randomized trial showing that taVNS can be delivered safely in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients while modulating autonomic balance.
Tan, G., Huguenard, A. L., Donovan, K. M., Demarest, P., Liu, X., Li, Z., Adamek, M., Lavine, K., Vellimana, A. K., Kummer, T. T., Osbun, J. W., Zipfel, G. J., Brunner, P., & Leuthardt, E. C. (2025). The effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on cardiovascular function in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients: A randomized trial. eLife. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.100088
Development of novel noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation for working memory improvement
Tan, G., Adams, J., Donovan, K., Demarest, P., Willie, J. T., Brunner, P., Gorlewicz, J. L., & Leuthardt, E. C. (2024). Does vibrotactile stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve enhance working memory? A behavioral and physiological investigation. In Brain Stimulation (Vol. 17, Issue 2, pp. 460–468). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2024.04.002
Corticomuscular network as a framework for understanding motor recovery following stroke and optimizing TMS.
Tan, G., Wang, J., Liu, J., Sheng, Y., Xie, Q., & Liu, H. (2022). A framework for quantifying the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor recovery from hemiparesis: corticomuscular network. Journal of Neural Engineering, 19(2). https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ac636b
Systems and computational methods
To advance cognitive neuroscience research and neurotechnology for cognitive health, I develop system and computational methods to record, analyze, and interpret multimodal neural and behavioral signals, including human electrophysiology, neuroimaging, speech acoustics, and eye tracking.
Selected methods publications
Multiscale transfer spectral entropy for quantifying directed corticomuscular interaction across scales.
Liu, J., Tan, G., Sheng, Y., & Liu, H. (2021). Multiscale Transfer Spectral Entropy for Quantifying Corticomuscular Interaction. IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics, 25(6), 2281-2292. https://doi.org/10.1109/JBHI.2020.303297
Selected publications
A systematic review of focused ultrasound neuromodulation for major depressive disorder across clinical trials and animal model studies.
Tan, G., Chen, H., & Leuthardt, E. C. (2026). Ultrasound Applications in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review of Techniques and Therapeutic Potentials in Clinical Trials and Animal Model Studies. Neuromodulation, 29(2), 187-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurom.2025.08.001
Saccade-related evoked potentials support visual encoding in humans.
Tan, G., Demarest, P., Li, Y., Cho, H., Park, H., Swift, J. R., Inman, C. S., Manns, J. R., Hamann, S. B., Liu, X., Wahlstrom, K. L., Li, Z., Hollearn, M. K., Campbell, J. M., Cettina, P. E., Sivakumar, S. S., Leuthardt, E. C., Willie, J. T., & Brunner, P. (2025). Mind's eye: Saccade-related evoked potentials support visual encoding in humans. medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.11.11.25339896
A randomized trial showing that taVNS can be delivered safely in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients while modulating autonomic balance.
Tan, G., Huguenard, A. L., Donovan, K. M., Demarest, P., Liu, X., Li, Z., Adamek, M., Lavine, K., Vellimana, A. K., Kummer, T. T., Osbun, J. W., Zipfel, G. J., Brunner, P., & Leuthardt, E. C. (2025). The effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on cardiovascular function in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients: A randomized trial. eLife. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.100088
Development of novel noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation for working memory improvement
Tan, G., Adams, J., Donovan, K., Demarest, P., Willie, J. T., Brunner, P., Gorlewicz, J. L., & Leuthardt, E. C. (2024). Does vibrotactile stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve enhance working memory? A behavioral and physiological investigation. In Brain Stimulation (Vol. 17, Issue 2, pp. 460–468). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2024.04.002
Corticomuscular network as a framework for understanding motor recovery following stroke and optimizing TMS.
Tan, G., Wang, J., Liu, J., Sheng, Y., Xie, Q., & Liu, H. (2022). A framework for quantifying the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor recovery from hemiparesis: corticomuscular network. Journal of Neural Engineering, 19(2). https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ac636b
A Trend on Autism Spectrum Disorder Research: Eye Tracking-EEG Correlative Analytics.
G. Tan, K. Xu, J. Liu and H. Liu, "A Trend on Autism Spectrum Disorder Research: Eye Tracking-EEG Correlative Analytics," in IEEE Transactions on Cognitive and Developmental Systems, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 1232-1244, Sept. 2022, doi: 10.1109/TCDS.2021.3102646.
Multiscale transfer spectral entropy for quantifying directed corticomuscular interaction across scales.
Liu, J., Tan, G., Sheng, Y., & Liu, H. (2021). Multiscale Transfer Spectral Entropy for Quantifying Corticomuscular Interaction. IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics, 25(6), 2281-2292. https://doi.org/10.1109/JBHI.2020.303297