Dr. Jonathan Cerna received his B.S. in Dietetics from Iowa State University in 2018, followed by an M.S. in Nutritional Sciences (2021) and Ph.D. in Neuroscience (2025) from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He currently directs the Mind-body Integration & Neurophysiological Dynamics (MIND) Laboratory. His research takes a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive, motor, and emotional benefits of mind-body practices such as Tai Chi, yoga, and meditation, with particular focus on promoting healthy brain aging. Dr. Cerna integrates multimodal approaches—ranging from functional neuroimaging and computational modeling to wearable sensor analytics—to identify how these practices modulate brain network dynamics and support cognitive resilience across the lifespan. His work bridges basic neuroscience with translational applications, creating personalized and scalable interventions that optimize brain health and well-being in both healthy aging and clinical populations.
