The primary motivation behind Dr. Asthana’s research is the observation that memory helps individuals to handle everyday challenges. It aids an individual in providing relevant information storage and retrieval at the time of need. Memory provides critical information from remembering appointments made with the doctor to the navigation of our external world. Dr. Asthana’s ongoing research aims to understand the psychological, physiological, and cognitive aspects during memory consolidation and reconsolidation mechanisms. Current research direction combines behavior, physiological responses, cognitive, and virtual reality – include:

1. Describe how reactivation trial modulate pathological learning and memory
2. Specifying the development of novel methods such as behavioral, transcranial direct current stimulation, and cognitive was a particular focus of his work
3. Investigations of early biomarkers for anxiety and related disorders, e.g., startle, SCR, HRV, RSP, etc.

To address these questions, Dr. Asthana used his Faculty Initiation Grant (FIG) given by IIT Roorkee to purchase some essential tools such as psychological software (E-Prime), biofeedback system (Biopac), and DC-stimulator (Solterix). Dr. Asthana has planned and designed several memory studies using these tools.