Our laboratory investigates the role of context in episodic memory

In our constantly changing environment, we process enormous amounts of information on a daily basis. While we may not pay particularly close attention to the context in which we study and learn, context plays a fundamental role in memory as it provides the "setting" in which memories are formed. The research topics in this lab evolve around our fundamental interest in how context shapes and organizes our episodic memories, as well as how context influences the retrieval of memories. We use a variety of methods, including behavioral experiments, neuropsychological studies involving fMRI, eye tracking studies, as well as computational modeling approaches to arrive at a deeper understanding of the role of context in memory. We study these questions with different populations, including but not limited to: studies with older adults, younger adults with individual differences in executive control, as well as adults with vulnerability to various forms of mental illness.