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. |
Maddison Mello
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Bio: Maddie is a senior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Marketing and Black Studies. Her research interests include misinformation and false memory, sensory reactivation, personality disorders, and group dynamics. Maddie plans to pursue a 5-Year Master’s Program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology after completing her undergraduate degree in 2021.
Project: Investigating the effects of warning on memory in the face of misinformation |
Tal Nizan
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Bio: Tal is a senior with self-designed major in cognitive neuroscience.
Project: Using ERPs to investigate the nature of false memories for spatial location |
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Kayla Beck
Volunteer Research Assistant 
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Bio: Kayla graduated Fairfield University in 2020 with a degree in psychology with a focus in behavioral neuroscience. She is currently volunteering with Dr. Karanian’s Lab while simultaneously researching psychology graduate programs. She plans to pursue a career in research.
Project: Investigating the effects of warning on memory in the face of misinformation |
Jordan Chicoski
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Bio: Jordan is a senior majoring in Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience. She is also a research assistant in Dr. Harding's behavioral neuroscience lab. Jordan plans to pursue a career in neuroscience following graduating in May 2021.
Project: Investigating the effects of warning on memory in the face of misinformation |
Lab Alumni
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.
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.
