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.
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 and completed postdoctoral training at Tufts University. 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 with appointments in the doctoral programs in Psychology and Law and Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience at the City University of New York Graduate Center. 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. A list of current research questions are listed below. Projects:
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Angelina Vasquez
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Bio: Angelina was born and raised in Northern San Diego and received her bachelor’s in Psychological Science at California State University San Marcos. In 2018, she switched coasts to pursue her MA in Experimental Psychology at Brooklyn College. Angelina is interested in social and cognitive aspects of psychology and her main research focus is on memory distortion. She is currently completing an MA Thesis.
Project: Memory for social media and memory suppression |
Catherine Hackett
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Bio: Catherine Hackett graduated with her bachelor's in Psychology from Fairfield University in January 2018. While at Fairfield University, she worked with Dr. Linda Henkel and discovered her interest in false memories. She is pursuing her MA in Forensic Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and is expected to graduate in May 2020. She is currently completing an MA Thesis.
Project: Memory suppression and memory for social media |
Alba Cruz Vargas
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Bio: Alba joined John Jay College in Fall 2018 and met Dr. Karanian in her Cognitive Psychology course. She is expected to graduate with her bachelor's in Forensic Psychology and a minor in Computer Science in Fall 2020.
Project: Coming soon |
Gilianne Oyola
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Bio: Gilianne is a second-semester junior at John Jay College. She is pursuing a dual-degree bachelor's and master's in Forensic Psychology. Gilianne loves every aspect of forensic psychology and the human brain, but her biggest passion is brain development.
Project: Coming soon |
Max Gould
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Bio: Max graduated from Brandeis University in 2018 with a double major in American Studies and Philosophy, and a minor in Legal Studies. He has worked with wrongful conviction cases at both the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice and the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, and is interested in the psychological processes underpinning false memories and false confessions. Max is currently working as a paralegal at a law firm in Manhattan.
Project: Meta-analysis on the role of the visual cortex in false memory construction. |
Former Students
2017-2018: Ilaria Schlitz (Wesleyan University): The Jury’s Out: An analysis of juror perception of child eyewitnesses and its validity.
2015-2016: Xiaolin Chen (Boston College): Assessing the timing of judicial instructions: Evidence from psychological research.
2014-2016: Emily Blanco (Boston College): The effect of repeated questioning on eyewitness memory under conditions of stress and subtle misinformation.
2015-2016: Xiaolin Chen (Boston College): Assessing the timing of judicial instructions: Evidence from psychological research.
2014-2016: Emily Blanco (Boston College): The effect of repeated questioning on eyewitness memory under conditions of stress and subtle misinformation.
