CRaNE Members

Keywords: aging, neuroimaging, human, computation, virtual reality, memory, decision-making

Thematic research area(s): Human Spatial Cognition; Artificial Agents and Robotics; Architecture and Applied Spatial Cognition

Dr. Brown studies the neural and cognitive bases of spatial memory, navigation and decision-making. He is particularly interested in representation and computation – how one brain area processes navigation-relevant information, and how this information is translated into computations in other areas. Two major foci for his current work are aging impacts on navigation systems, and reward and affective influences on spatial behavior.

Keywords: aging, neuroendocrinology, Alzheimer’s, memory, virtual reality

Thematic research area(s): Human Spatial Cognition

Dr. Moffat studies navigational memory and strategy changes with age and age-related disease. His program utilizes VR and imaging tools for behavioral and brain biomarkers of these changes. Dr. Moffat’s lab also examines how endochrinology and nutritional factors influence brain health, spatial cognition, and risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Keywords: autobiographical memory, navigation, semantic knowledge, lesion studies, hippocampus

Thematic research area(s): Human Spatial Cognition

Dr. Rosenbaum studies (1) What is the role of the hippocampus and other memory structures in storing and retrieving very old memories?  For example, is the hippocampus always necessary for re-experiencing the details of personal life events? (2) How is spatial memory related to memory for personal events and for facts? (3) How does reconstructing past autobiographical episodes relate to non-mnemonic abilities, such as imagining events that have never occurred or deciphering other people’s current mental states?

Keywords: wayfinding; assistive technology; 2D and 3D spatial memory

Thematic research area(s): Human Spatial Cognition; Artificial Agents and Robotics; Architecture and Applied Spatial Cognition

Dr. Walker studies the human-computer interaction (HCI) issues in non-traditional interfaces, ranging from mobile devices, to cockpits and vehicle displays, to multimodal interfaces in education and in complex task environments. Particular research interests include sonification and auditory displays, and wayfinding by persons with disabilities. Professor Walker teaches HCI, Research Methods, Sensation & Perception, Auditory Interfaces, and Assistive Technology. 

Keywords: rodents, virtual mazes, memory, coordinate transformation, Alzheimer’s disease

Thematic research area(s): Animal Models of Spatial Cognition and Behavior

Dr. Wilber studies how we orient ourselves in space to navigate our environment and what can go wrong when this system fails. He is currently investigating how our brain coordinates between body-centered and world-centered mapping of our surroundings. His research explores why Alzheimer’s disease leads to difficulty in navigation, what brain changes may underlie the propensity to get lost, the relationship between changes in brain activity patterns during sleep and impaired spatial learning in Alzheimer’s disease, and potential treatments for reversing these impairments.

Paulina’s research focuses on spatial navigation and schema memory across the lifespan. She is particularly interested in the hippocampal-medial prefrontal mechanisms involved in the different stages of spatial navigation and during complex memory and virtual navigation tasks.

In addition to supporting CRaNE’s administration, Paulina is developing educational programming for the Center.