Welcome to the Cognitive Aging & Neuroimaging Lab!
The Cognitive Aging & Neuroimaging (CAN) Lab, in the Department of Psychology at Penn State, examines the effects of aging on episodic memory using both behavioral and neuroimaging (fMRI) methods. Regarding neuroimaging, we specifically utilize univariate, multivariate (pattern classification, representational similarity analyses), functional connectivity, and structural analytical approaches in our investigation of encoding and retrieval processes underlying memory performance. An emphasis is placed on understanding the cognitive and neural processes underlying false memories and associative memories. With respect to cognitive aging, our research examines neural markers of age-related cognitive decline, as well as mechanisms supporting neural compensation. Other lines of research pursued within the lab include cognitive training, cognitive control, and statistical learning.
Publications
In Press/Under Review
West, J. T., Wagner, R. L., Steinkrauss, A., & Dennis, N. A. (under review). Investigating the cognitive correlates of semantic and perceptual false memory in older and younger adults: A multi-group latent variable approach.https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/usr7n
Dennis, N.A., Overman, A.A., Carpenter, C.M., Becker, A., West, J.T., & Chase, S.O. (under review). The Otter and the Cleaver: Exploring the neural underpinnings of unitization using the Gestalt principle of proximity. https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/3d57x
Dubec, L., Gerver, C. R., Dennis, N., & Beaty, R. (under review). Enhancing creative divergent thinking in older adults with a semantic retrieval strategy. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/hbpjm
Turney, I. C., Chamberlain, J. D., Hakun, J. G., Steinkrauss, A. C., Ross, L. A., Kirchhoff, B. A., & Dennis, N. A. (under review). Investigation of the neural effects of memory training to reduce false memories in older adults: Univariate and multivariate analyses. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.11.08.515495
2024
Dennis, N.A., Carpenter, C.M., & Becker, A. (2024). Examining the neural basis of unitization: A review. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13415-024-01170-3
Carpenter, C. M., & Dennis, N. A. (2024). Investigating the neural basis of schematic false memories by examining schematic and lure pattern similarity. Memory, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2024.2316169
2023
Dennis, N. A., Chamberlain, J. D., & Carpenter, C. M. (2023). False memories: What neuroimaging tells us about how we mis-remember the past. The Sage Handbook of Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781529616651
Steinkrauss, A. C., Carpenter, C. M., Tarkenton, M. K., Overman, A. A. & Dennis, N. A. (2023). Neural distinctiveness and discriminability underlying unitization and associative memory in aging. Aging Brain. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbas.2023.100097
Gerver, C. R., Griffin, J. W., Dennis, N. A. et al. (2023). Memory and creativity: A meta-analytic examination of the relationship between memory systems and creative cognition. Psychon Bull Rev. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-023-02303-4
(2023) Within-category similarity negatively affects associative memory performance in both younger and older adults, Memory, 31(1), 77-91, DOI: 10.1080/09658211.2022.2123524
Carpenter, C. M., Dennis, N. A. (2023) Does unitization really function like items? The role of interference on item and associative memory processes. Mem Cogn 51, 1159–1169. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-022-01389-w
News
Our newest grant was just funded! The title of our grant is “The use of high-resolution fMRI to elucidate the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying the benefits of environmental support on associative memory in younger and older adults.” Nancy brought in a special treat to announce that our grant was successfully funded.
Congrats to the everyone for their awesome presentations at CNS Toronto 2024!
Congrats to Becky on her funding of the Graduate Research Fellowship through the National Science Foundation
Congrats Alexa, on your first publication as a first author!
Congrats to our lab manager, Ashley, for heading off to grad school. Good luck!
We’d like to officially welcome John, Spencer, and Luke to the CANLab! We are excited to see what you will accomplish.
Congrats to Jordan for successfully defending his dissertation and graduating!
A huge congrats to Cat for receiving the T32 Fellowship to work with Nancy and Janine Kwapis!
We are proud of our research assistants for presenting at Penn State’s annual Undergraduate Exhibition, congrats to both Cheyna and Gitana
The CANLab enjoyed attending and participating at the final Lenten Dinner at Good Shepherd Catholic Church!
Questions? Let us know!
441 Moore Building, University Park, PA 16802 / (814) 865-0878 / CANLABatPSU@gmail.com