Author: Lisa Johnson

new paper on the brain’s representation of time

We examined individuals with focal brain damage to understand how the brain represents time – a notoriously elusive construct. Individuals with orbitofrontal cortex damage were specifically impaired in memory for temporal order. This region is commonly injured in head trauma, and our finding holds implications for understanding not only time, but also behavioral changes in those who have sustained head injuries. Paper published in Current Biology.

new paper on memory formation in pediatric patients

press release

We used direct brain recordings in pediatric neurosurgical patients to understand how key memory regions interact during memory formation – a long-standing question in human neuroscience. Results reveal slow and fast theta oscillations, which separate across development and support distinct functional connections. Strengthened functional and structural connections differentiated top-performing adolescents from lower-performing adolescents and children. Findings suggest that the development of memory is rooted in the development of the brain’s ability to multitask. Paper published in Current Biology.

new paper on working memory in aging

We used noninvasive neurostimulation to understand and improve working memory in aging – a primary goal of translational neuroscience. Findings illuminate theta networks and theta-gamma coupling as distinct but complementary mechanisms supporting this vital cognitive process. Both mechanisms are amenable to intervention, the effectiveness of which can be predicted by individual demographic factors. Paper published in NeuroImage.