We investigate how expertise affects perception, cognition, and the neural systems that support fast and accurate expert behavior. We conducted these studies with the late Dr. James Bartlett. We collaborate with the renowned UT Dallas Chess Program to study cognition in members of the team who are extreme chess experts.

Findings have indicated that expert perception in chess looks similar to the type of expertise that people commonly exhibit with human faces. The story is more complex when looking at the neuroscience of chess perception, as we have not found extensive overlap in face and chess processing at a neural level. Rather, other regions of the brain supporting memory and executive control are differentially active in experts.