Dynamic Memory and Cognition Lab

The work in the Dynamic Memory and Cognition lab is centred around two major topics:

The human ability to dynamically search for and store information for use at a later time.
The human ability to adaptively adjust the cognitive system to deal with a changing external environment.

The guiding principle in our work is the premise that thought processes are fundamentally fluid and that the cognitive system as a whole consists of interacting subprocesses. As such, we take an interactive processing approach to cognition instead of the more common systems approach. We employ mainly experimental and computational methodologies, but we also involved in collaborative work using neuroscientific and clinical methods.

Participate in (on-line) experiments

We are always looking for participants to help with our research efforts. To contact me about being a participant in experiments use this email: memoryattention@gmail.com.

Currently, we have the following experiments available:

Insight, creativity and memory

This is an online study. Participants will see three words presented on the screen and have to find a fourth word that links with each of the three words shown. When a word comes to mind, the participant types this word in a textbox and indicates whether this was a possibly correct answer that popped into their mind or whether they think it is the real answer to the puzzle. It is very important to type in many words until you find the answer to the puzzle. It is possible that the answer comes to mind in a flash of insight. If so, this can be mentioned as well, allowing us to further understand the psychology of insight and creativity.
Duration: max 1 hour, but can be as short as 10 minutes
Credits: 4 credits
Location:

Funding

The temporal dynamics of hypothesis generation and maintenance. (with R. Thomas and N. Lange) National Science Foundation grant 1024650 1 September 2010 – 31 August 2013.
Decision and memory: the effect of stopping rules on memory use. (with M. Dougherty and J. I. Harbison) National Science Foundation grant 1030831 1 September 2010 – 31 August 2013.
Semantic inhibition through short term retention. British Academy grant SG-54155, 1 October 2009 – 31 March 2010.
Investigating attentional control. Faculty of Science Research Grant, 1 February 2008 – 30 April 2008. - Behavioral studies on the dynamics of memory and selective attention. (with M. Usher and H. Müller). Faculty of Science Research Grant, 1 January 2007 – 31 July 2007.
Individual differences in memory and language: executive control and short-term memory capacity. (with M. Usher). British Academy grant SG-38634, 1 August 2004 – 31 December 2004.
Investigating semantic inhibition due to short-term retention of words. ESRC grant RES-000-22-0655, 1 April 2004 – 28 February 2005.
The role of short-term memory in language processing. ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship T026271312, 1 March 2003 – 31 March 2004.

Lab Members

Postdocs

	Nick Lange (NSF grant: 1024650)
	Erica Yu (NSF grant: 1030831)

PhD Students

	Mervyn Etienne
	Nick Rendell
	Olivia Guest

MSc Students

Lab Alumni