Publications

Journal Articles and Preprints

• R. Parajuli, E. Flynn, M. Dhamala, "Frontal Theta Oscillations in Perceptual Decision-Making Reflect Cognitive Control and Confidence", Brain Sci. 16, 123 (2026).
• P. Mukherjee, S. Apraku, M. Dhamala, "Frontal-to-Parietal Theta Interactions Mediate Tactile Decision-Making", Life (Basel) 16, 390 (2026).
• C. Mukherjee, S. Bajaj, B. M. Adhikari, M. Dhamala, "Sex-dependent grey matter atrophy in Alzheimer's disease progression", Brain Commun. 8, fcag103 (2026). GSU News
• K. Cahill, M. Dhamala, "Level up the brain! Novel PCA method reveals key neuroplastic refinements in action video gamers", Imaging Neurosci. (Camb) 4, IMAG.a.1090 (2026).
• C. Mukherjee, K. Cahill, M. Dhamala, "Action Video Gaming Enhances Brain Structure: Increased Cortical Thickness and White Matter Integrity in Occipital and Parietal Regions", Brain Sci. 15, 956 (2025).
• S. Kasradze et al., "Noninvasive Seizure Onset Zone Localization Using Janashia-Lagvilava Algorithm-Based Spectral Factorization in Granger Causality", Brain Sci. 15, 1334 (2025).
• M. Imanian et al., "Verify the effects of esports on cognitive skill: focusing on decision making", BMC Sports Sci. Med. Rehabil. 17, 195 (2025).
• K. Cahill, M. Dhamala, "Structurally constrained functional connectivity reveals efficient visuomotor decision-making mechanisms in action video gamers", Sci. Rep. 15, 43301 (2025).
• S. Kinsey et al., "Networks extracted from nonlinear fMRI connectivity exhibit unique spatial variation and enhanced sensitivity to differences between individuals with schizophrenia and controls", Nat. Ment. Health 2, 1464-1475 (2024).
• A. Iraji et al., "Spatial Dynamic Subspaces Encode Sex-Specific Schizophrenia Disruptions in Transient Network Overlap and Their Links to Genetic Risk", Biol. Psychiatry 96, 188-197 (2024).
• S. Ghimire, M. Dhamala, C. M. Epstein, "A Stable EEG Epilepsy Network Spans From Infraslow to Ripple and From Interictal to Ictus", J. Clin. Neurophysiol. 41, 251-256 (2024). PDF
• K. Cahill, T. Jordan, M. Dhamala, "Connectivity in the Dorsal Visual Stream Is Enhanced in Action Video Game Players", Brain Sci. 14, 1206 (2024).
• S. Kinsey et al., "Networks extracted from nonlinear fMRI connectivity exhibit unique spatial variation and enhanced sensitivity to differences between individuals with schizophrenia and controls", bioRxiv 10.1101/2023.11.16.566292 (2023).
• T. Jordan, M. Dhamala, "Enhanced Dorsal Attention Network to Salience Network Interaction in Video Gamers During Sensorimotor Decision-Making Tasks", Brain Connect. 13, 97-106 (2023). PDF
• A. Iraji et al., "Spatial Dynamic Subspaces Encode Sex-Specific Schizophrenia Disruptions in Transient Network Overlap and its Links to Genetic Risk", bioRxiv 10.1101/2023.07.18.548880 (2023).
• C. Colomer, M. Dhamala, G. Ganesh, J. Lagarde, "Granger Geweke Causality reveals information exchange during physical interaction is modulated by task difficulty", Hum. Mov. Sci. 92, 103139 (2023).
• Y. Liu et al., "Causal Evidence for a Role of Cerebellar Lobulus Simplex in Prefrontal-Hippocampal Interaction in Spatial Working Memory Decision-Making", Cerebellum 21, 762-775 (2022).
• C. Colomer, M. Dhamala, G. Ganesh, J. Lagarde, "Interacting humans use forces in specific frequencies to exchange information by touch", Scientific Reports 12, 15752 (2022).
  
• T. Jordan, M. Dhamala, "Video game players have improved decision-making abilities and enhanced brain activities", Neuroimage: Reports 2, 100112 (2022). GSU News PlumX
• V. M. Vergara, M. Norgaard, R. Miller, R. E. Beaty, K. Dhakal, M. Dhamala, V. D. Calhoun, "Functional network connectivity during Jazz improvisation", Scientific Reports 11, 1-12 (2021)(Top 100 in Neuroscience) .
  Top 100 Collection
• J. A. Henderson,  M. Dhamala, P. A. Robinson, "Brain dynamics and structure-function relationships via spectral factorization and the transfer function", NeuroImage 235, 117989 (2021) .
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• K. Dhakal, M. Norgaard, M. Dhamala, "Enhanced White Matter Fiber Tracts in Advanced Jazz Improvisers", Brain Sciences 11, 506 (2021) .
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• K. Dhakal, M. Norgaard, B. Adhikari, K. Yun, M. Dhamala, "Higher node activity with less functional connectivity during musical improvisation", Brain Connectivity 9, 296 -309 (2019) . PDF
• S. McAfee, Y. Liu, M. Dhamala, D. Heck, "Thalamocortical communication in the awake mouse visual system involves phase synchronization and rhythmic spike synchrony at high gamma frequencies", Frontiers in Neuroscience, doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00837 (2018).
  
• H. Wu, L. Kang, Z. Liu, M. Dhamala, "Exact explosive synchronization transitions in Kuramoto oscillators with time-delayed coupling", Scientific Reports 8, 15521 1-8 (2018). (GSU's News) GSU News
• H. Wu, M. Dhamala, "Dynamics of Kuramoto oscillators with time-delayed positive and negative couplings", Phys. Rev. E. 98, 032221 1-8 (2018). (GSU's News) PDF GSU News
• M. F. Pagnotta, M. Dhamala, G. Plomp, "Assessing the performance of Granger-Geweke causality:Benchmark dataset and simulation framework", Data in Brief 21, 833 - 851 (2018).
  
• M. F. Pagnotta, M. Dhamala, G. Plomp, "Benchmarking nonparametric Granger causality: robustness against downsampling and influence of spectral decomposition parameters", NeuroImage 183, 478 - 494 (2018). PDF
• M. Dhamala, H. Liang, S. L. Bressler, M. Ding, "Granger-Geweke causality: estimation and interpretation", NeuroImage 175, 460 - 463 (2018).
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• B. Adhikari, C.M. Epstein, M. Dhamala,"Enhanced brain network activity in complex movement rhythms: a simultaneous fMRI-EEG study", Brain Connectivity 8, 68 (2018) .
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• Z. Wang, C. Tian, M. Dhamala, Z. Liu, "A small change in neuronal network topology can induce explosive synchronization transition and activity propagation in the entire network", Scientific Reports 7, 561 (2017). PDF
• G. Chand, M. Dhamala, "Interactions between the anterior cingulate-insula network and the fronto-parietal network during perceptual decision-making ", NeuroImage, 152 381-389 (2017) . PDF
• S. Bajaj, S. Housley, D. Wu, M. Dhamala, G. A. James, A. J. Butler, "Dominance of the unffected hemisphere motor network and its role in the behavior of chronic stroke survivors", Frontiers in Human Neurosc. 10, 650 (2016).
  
• B. Adhikari, M. Norgaard, K. Quinn, J. Ampudia, J. Squirek, M. Dhamala, "The brain network underpinning novel melody creation", Brain Connectivity 6, 772 - 785 (2016). PDF
• S. Bajaj, B. Adhikari, K. Friston, M. Dhamala, "Bridging the gap: Dynamic causal modeling and Granger causality analysis of resting state fMRI", Brain Connectivity 6, 652 - 661 (2016). PDF
• G. Chand, B. Lamichhane, M. Dhamala, "Face or house image perception: beta and gamma bands of oscillations in brain networks carry out the decision", Brain Connectivity 6, 621 - 631 (2016). PDF
• B. Lamichhane, B. Adhikari, M. Dhamala, "Salience network activity in perceptual decisions", Brain Connectivity 6, 558 -571  (2016). PDF
• B. Lamichhane, B. Adhikari, M. Dhamala, "The activity in the anterior insulae is modulated by perceptual decision-making difficulty", Neuroscience 327, 79 - 94 (2016) .
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• G. Chand, M. Dhamala, "The salience network dynamics in perceptual decision-making", NeuroImage 134, 85 -93 (2016)  . (ScienceDaily News) PDF ScienceDaily News
• G. Chand, M. Dhamala, "Interactions among the brain default-mode, salience and central-executive networks during perceptual decision-making of moving dots", Brain Connectivity 6, 249 (2016) .
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• B. Lamichhane, M. Dhamala, "Perceptual decision-making difficulty modulates feedforward effective connectivity to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex", Front. Hum. Neurosci 9, 948, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00498  (2015) . PDF
• S. Bajaj, A. J. Butler, D. Drake, M. Dhamala, "Brain effective connectivity during motor-imagery and execution following stroke and rehabilitation", NeuroImage: Clinical 8, 572 - 582(2015).
• S. Bajaj, A. J. Butler, D. Drake, M. Dhamala, "Functional organization and restoration of the brain motor-execution network after stroke and rehabilitation", Frontiers in Human Neurosc. 9, 1 (2015) . (ScienceDaily News) PDF ScienceDaily News
• B. Lamichhane, M. Dhamala, "The salience network and its functional architecture in a perceptual decision: an effective connectivity study", Brain Connectivity 5, 362-70 (2015). PDF
• D. Sabatinelli, L. M. McTeague, M. Dhamala, D. W. Frank, T. J. Wanger, B. M. Adhikari, "Reduced medial prefrontal-subcortical connectivity in dysphoria: Granger causality analyses of rapid functional MRI", Brain Connectivity  5, 1 - 9 (2015) . PDF
• C. Epstein, B. Adhikari, R. Gross, J. Willie, M. Dhamala, "Application of high-frequency Granger causality to analysis of epileptic seizures and surgical decision-making, Epilepsia 55, 2038 - 2047 (2014).(ScienceDaily News)
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• B. Lamichhane, B. Adhikari, S. Brosnan, M. Dhamala, "The neural basis of perceived unfairness in economic exchanges", Brain Connectivity, DOI: 10.1089 (2014) .(ScienceDaily News) PDF ScienceDaily News
• D. Sabatinelli, D. W. Frank, T. J. Wanger, M. Dhamala, B. M. Adhikari, X. Li, "The timing and directional connectivity of human frontoparietal and ventral visual attention networks in emotional scene perception", Neuroscience 277, 229 - 238 (2014) . PDF
• B. Adhikari, K. Sathian, C. Epstein, B. Lamichhane, M. Dhamala, "Oscillatory activity in neocortical networks during tactile discrimination near the limit of spatial acuity", NeuroImage 19, 300 - 310 (2014). PDF
• S. Bajaj, D. Drake, A. J. Butler, M. Dhamala, "Oscillatory motor network activity during rest and movement: an fNIR study", Frontiers in Systems Neurosc. 8, 1 (2014).
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• G. Chand and M. Dhamala, "Spectral factorization-based current source density analysis of ongoing neural oscillations", J. Neuro. Methods 224, 58-65 (2014).
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• B. Adhikari, C. Epstein, M. Dhamala, "Localizing epileptic seizure onsets with Granger causality", Physical Review E 88, 030701 (Rapid) (2013) + (supplementary information). (GSU's News)
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• B. Adhikari, K. Quinn, M. Dhamala, "Is brain's inertia for motor movements different for acceleration and deceleration?", PLOS ONE 8, e78055 (2013). PDF
• B. Adhikari, E. Goshorn, B. Lamichhane, M. Dhamala, "Temporal order judgments of audiovisual events involve network activity between parietal and prefrontal cortices", Brain Connectivity 3, 536-545 (2013). PDF
• S. Bajaj, B. Lamichhane, B. Adhikari, M. Dhamala, "Amygdala-mediated connectivity in perceptual decision-making of emotional facial expressions", Brain Connectivity 3, 386-397 (2013).
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• K. Xu, W. Huang, B. Li, M. Dhamala, and Z. Liu, ``Controlling self-sustained spiking activity by adding or removing network link,'' Europhysics Letters 102, 50002 1-6 (2013).  PDF
• S. Bajaj, B. Adhikari, M. Dhamala, "Higher frequency network activity flow predicts lower frequency node activity in intrinsic low-frequency BOLD fluctuations", PLOS ONE 8(5), e64466 (2013).   PDF
• Y.  Shiogai, M. Dhamala, K. Oshima, M. Hasler, "Cortico-cardio-respiratory network interactions during anesthesia", PLOS ONE 7(9), e44634 (2012) . (GSU's coverage) PDF GSU News
• Y.  Cao, S. Meran, M. Dhamala, D. Jaeger, D. Heck, "Behavior-related pauses in simple spike activity of mouse Purkinje cells are linked to spike rate modulation", J. Neuroscience 32, 8678 (2012) .
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• B. Adhikari, A. Prasad, and  M. Dhamala, " Time-delay-induced phase-transition to synchrony in coupled bursting neurons  ,'' Chaos 21, 023116 (2011) . (Journal Research Highlight) . PDF Journal Highlight
• A. Prasad, M. Dhamala, B. Adhikari, and R. Ramaswamy, ``Targeted Control of Amplitude Dynamics in Coupled Nonlinear Oscillators ,'' Physical Review E 82,  027201(2010) .
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• Xiaoming Liang, M. Dhamala, Liang Zhao, and Zonghua Liu, ``Phase-disorder-induced double resonance of neuronal activity,'' Physical Review E 82, 01902 (Rapid) (2010) .  PDF
• A. Prasad, M. Dhamala, B. Adhikari, and R. Ramaswamy, ``Amplitude Death in Nonlinear Oscillators with Nonlinear Coupling,'' Physical Review E 81, 027201 (2010) .  PDF
• X. Liang, M. Tang, M. Dhamala, and Z. Liu, ``Phase Synchronization of Inhibitory Bursting Neurons Induced by Distributed Time Delays in Chemical Coupling,'' Physical Review E 80, 066202 (2009). 
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• M. Dhamala, G. Rangarajan, and M. Ding, ``Analyzing Information Flow in Brain Networks with Nonparametric Granger Causality,'' NeuroImage 41 , 354-362 (2008). PDF
• M. Dhamala, G. Rangarajan, and M. Ding, ``Estimating Granger Causality from Fourier and Wavelet Transforms of Time Series Data,'' Physical Review Letters 100 , 018701 1-4 (2008)+ (supplementary information). (GSU's News) PDF Supplementary PDF GSU News PDF
• M. Dhamala, C. G. Assisi, V. K. Jirsa, F. L. Steinberg, and J. A. S. Kelso, ``Multisensory integration for timing engages different brain networks,'' NeuroImage 34, 764 - 773 (2007). PDF
• M. Dhamala, V. K. Jirsa, and M. Ding, ``Enhancement of neural synchrony by time delay,'' Physical Review Letters 92, 074104 1-4 (2004).  PDF
• M. Dhamala, V. K. Jirsa, and M. Ding, ``Transitions to synchrony in coupled bursting neurons,'' Physical Review Letters 92 , 028101 1-4 (2004) .
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• M. Dhamala, G. Pagnoni, K. Wiesenfeld, C. F. Zink, M. Martin, and G. S. Berns ``Neural correlates of the complexity of rhythmic finger-tapping,'', NeuroImage 20, 918 - 926 ( 2003). PDF
• C. F. Zink, G. Pagnoni, M. Martin, M. Dhamala, and G. S. Berns, ``Human striatal response to salient non-rewarding stimuli," J. Neuroscience 23 , 8092 - 8097 ( 2003). . (Featured in the Editorial) . PDF Editorial
• M. Dhamala and Y.-C. Lai, ``The natural measure of nonattracting chaotic sets and its representation by unstable periodic orbits," Int. J. Bifurcat. Chaos 12, 2991-3006 ( 2002). . PDF
• P. R. Montague, G. S. Berns, S. M. McClure, G. Pagnoni, M. Dhamala, et. al., "Hyperscan: simultaneous fMRI of human interaction," NeuroImage 16, 1159 - 1164 ( 2002). . (Nature News on Hyperscanning ) PDF Nature News PDF
• M. Dhamala, G. Pagnoni, K. Wiesenfeld, and G. S. Berns, ``Measurements of brain activity complexity for varying mental loads,'' Physical Review E 65, 041917 1 - 7 ( 2002). . PDF
• M. Dhamala and K. Wiesenfeld, ``Generalized stability law for Josephson series arrays,'' Physics Letters A 292, 269-274 ( 2002). . PDF
• M. Dhamala, Y.-C. Lai, and E. J. Kostelich, ``Analyses of transient chaotic time series,'' Physical Review E 64, 056207 1-9 ( 2001). . PDF
• M. Dhamala, Y.-C. Lai, and R. Holt, ``How often are chaotic transients in spatially extended ecological systems ?, '' Physics Letters A 280, 297 - 302 ( 2001). . PDF
• M. Dhamala, Y.-C. Lai, and E. J. Kostelich, ``Detecting unstable periodic orbits from transient chaotic time series, '' Physical Review E 61, 6485-6489 ( 2000). . PDF
• R. Davidchack, Y.-C. Lai, E. Bollt, and M. Dhamala, ``Estimating generating partitions of chaotic systems by unstable periodic orbits,'' Physical Review E 61, 1353-1356 ( 2000). . PDF
• M. Dhamala and Y.-C. Lai, ``Unstable periodic orbits and the natural measure of nonhyperbolic chaotic saddles,'' Physical Review E 60, 6176-6179 ( 1999). . PDF
• M. Dhamala and Y.-C. Lai, ``Controlling transient chaos in deterministic flows with applications to electrical power systems and ecology,'' Physical Review E 59, 1646-1655 ( 1999). . PDF

Comment, Encyclopedia Entry, Book Chapter

• M. Dhamala, "What is the nature of causality in the brain? - Inherently probabilistic: Comment on "Foundational perspectives on causality in large-scale brain networks" by M. Mannino and S. L. Bressler", Physics of Life Reviews 15, 139-140 (2015).
  
• M. Dhamala, "Spectral Interdependency Methods", Encylopedia of Computational Neuroscience, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_420-2 ..  PDF
• Y. Chen, M. Dhamala, A. Bollimunta, C. E. Schroeder, and M. Ding,"Current Source Density Analysis of Ongoing Neural Activity: Theory and Application" (In: Electrophysiological Recording Methods, Eds: R. P. Vertes and R. W. Stackman) (Human Press, Totowa, New Jersey) (2011). PDF