Memory & Cognitive Neuroscience Lab
The Memory & Cognitive Neuroscience Lab investigates the manner in which true and false memories are constructed using a variety of methods, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), behavioral paradigms, and physiological measures. Ultimately, we hope to apply our theoretical understanding of memory construction to both protect the integrity and improve the quality of human memory in real-world contexts.
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Jessica M. Karanian
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Bio: In 2019, Dr. Karanian joined the faculty at Fairfield University as an Assistant Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology. She received her Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Boston College with Dr. Scott Slotnick and completed postdoctoral training at Tufts University with Dr. Ayanna Thomas and Dr. Elizabeth Race. Dr. Karanian completed her undergraduate work at Fairfield University in 2012.
Prior to returning to her alma mater, Dr. Karanian was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Wesleyan University and an Assistant Professor of Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Dr. Karanian's research on human memory has been funded by the National Science Foundation, American Psychological Association, Association for Psychological Science, and the Sigma Xi Society. Her publications can be found here. |
Kate Bloss
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Kate is a senior Psychology major with a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience. She also has a minor in Health Studies, and is the Class of 2022 programmer for the Fairfield University Student Association. Kate plans to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy after attending a Master’s in Occupational Therapy program for the next two years.
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Shauna Harney
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Shauna is a senior Biology major with minors in Health Studies and Psychology. She is on the pre-med track in addition to being a research assistant in Dr. Karanian's neuroscience lab. Shauna plans to apply to medical school following graduation in May 2022
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Matt LaGanza
Research Assistant 
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Matt is a senior in the Honors Program majoring in Psychology with minors in Spanish and Economics. He is also a research assistant in Dr. Karanian’s lab, focusing on the susceptibility of eyewitnesses’ memory to misinformation. Matt plans on pursing a career in politics and law following his graduation in May 2022.
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Sydney Lerz
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Bio: Coming soon
Project: Coming soon |
Liana Marino
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Liana is a junior Psychology major with a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in American Studies. Liana is interested in business owning in the future, where she can combine her love for baking and the brain post graduation May 2023.
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Lab Alumni
2021:
Tal Nizan (Fairfield University): Using ERPs to investigate the nature of false memories for spatial location
Maddie Mello (Fairfield University): Investigating the effects of double warnings on memory in the face of misinformation
Jordan Chicoski (Fairfield University): Investigating the effects of warning on memory in the face of misinformation
Kayla Beck (Fairfield University): Investigating the effects of warning on memory in the face of misinformation
2020:
Katherine Trykowski (Fairfield University): The effects of coherence of co-witness statements on memory for an event.
Angelina Vasquez (John Jay College): Memory and social media.
Catherine Hackett (John Jay College): Impact of Think/No-Think Paradigm on Memory for Inadmissible Evidence.
2019:
Alba Cruz Vargas (John Jay College): Remembering and suppressing color information.
Gillianne Oyola (John Jay College): Remembering and suppressing color information.
Max Gould (Volunteer Research Assistant): Meta-analysis on false memory and the role of the visual cortex.
2015-2018:
Ilaria Schlitz (Wesleyan University): The Jury’s Out: An analysis of juror perception of child eyewitnesses and its validity.
Xiaolin Chen (Boston College): Assessing the timing of judicial instructions: Evidence from psychological research.
Emily Blanco (Boston College): The effect of repeated questioning on eyewitness memory under conditions of stress and subtle misinformation.
Tal Nizan (Fairfield University): Using ERPs to investigate the nature of false memories for spatial location
Maddie Mello (Fairfield University): Investigating the effects of double warnings on memory in the face of misinformation
Jordan Chicoski (Fairfield University): Investigating the effects of warning on memory in the face of misinformation
Kayla Beck (Fairfield University): Investigating the effects of warning on memory in the face of misinformation
2020:
Katherine Trykowski (Fairfield University): The effects of coherence of co-witness statements on memory for an event.
Angelina Vasquez (John Jay College): Memory and social media.
Catherine Hackett (John Jay College): Impact of Think/No-Think Paradigm on Memory for Inadmissible Evidence.
2019:
Alba Cruz Vargas (John Jay College): Remembering and suppressing color information.
Gillianne Oyola (John Jay College): Remembering and suppressing color information.
Max Gould (Volunteer Research Assistant): Meta-analysis on false memory and the role of the visual cortex.
2015-2018:
Ilaria Schlitz (Wesleyan University): The Jury’s Out: An analysis of juror perception of child eyewitnesses and its validity.
Xiaolin Chen (Boston College): Assessing the timing of judicial instructions: Evidence from psychological research.
Emily Blanco (Boston College): The effect of repeated questioning on eyewitness memory under conditions of stress and subtle misinformation.
