My research program, broadly defined, investigates the cognitive mechanisms
underlying human learning and memory. In particular, research in my lab focuses on
category learning – that is, the process of establishing a memory trace that improves the
efficiency of assigning novel objects to contrasting groups. Category learning is a
particularly useful focus as it provides a model for investigating many key theoretical
issues of general relevance to human learning and memory. More specifically, my research
program investigates: 1) the nature and interaction of multiple learning systems; 2)
rule-guided behavior; 3) the relationship between social stress and cognition; and 4)
characterizing and improving cognitive function in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
In pursuit of these research topics, I use a number of methodological approaches to
investigate category learning including traditional cognitive experiments with
college-aged and elderly individuals, computational modeling, psychophysiology, and
behavioral research with neuropsychological populations.

Articles

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Cerebellar Pathology Does Not Impair Performance on Identification or Categorization Tasks (with Richard B. Ivry), Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society (2008)

In comparison to the basal ganglia, prefrontal cortex, and medial temporal lobes, the cerebellum has...