Our research is aimed at the scientific understanding of human memory and its relationship to other psychological processes. Memory is a critical ingredient for mental functions, including our understanding of the personal past, our current goals and actions, and our plans for the future. It is the foundation for our body of knowledge about the world and our selves.
Memory is not a single "thing" - there are different types of memories, and they can rely on different brain mechanisms. Understanding these different components is essential for identifying the conditions where memory can be misleading, for developing tasks that can lead to early detection of cognitive disorders, and for evaluating possible methods of improving memory and quality of life. There is a long-standing tradition for applying memory research to important societal issues, such as eyewitness testimony, education, brain disorders, and drugs/mnemonics that might improve memory.
OUR QUESTIONS
In our lab we seek answers to the following sorts of questions. How do conscious and nonconscious processes contribute to cognition? How can we avoid memory distortion or false memories? What are the neural components of retrieval, and to what degree are these components affected (or not) by healthy aging? How does Alzheimer's disease affect them? What are the similarities and differences in the way the brain processes different types of memories and implements different cognitive strategies? What do we know about our own memories (metamemory), how does this knowledge vary across individuals, and what are the consequences for quality of life? And finally, what are the most interesting and important questions for memory research?
OUR METHODS
Our research primarily draws on traditions from cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, and neuroscience. We use a converging methods approach, relying on well-controlled cognitive tasks, brain imaging techniques, self-report or subjective techniques, and (of course) the existing research literature. More specific examples of our research projects can be obtained from the PUBLICATIONS page on our website.
