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The Brain and Cognition Lab
The Brain and Cognition Lab explores a range of topics that link biological and psychological factors, with a strong focus on understanding how the brain supports cognitive functions. Current research is dedicated to examining advanced cognitive abilities, such as attention, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and nonverbal/visual reasoning, primarily in college student populations. The lab employs a combination of behavioral techniques and physiological measurements, including electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor brain activity and cardiovascular tests to assess stress levels and mental workload.
Location: University Hall 3321
Director: Dr. Michael Foy
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Classroom Teaching & Student Learning
Qualitative-quantitative approaches to measure and study classroom teaching, specifically through the use of lesson videos; individual difference variables that affect how teachers and students approach educational opportunities; effects of learning/teaching interventions on student outcomes.
Location: University Hall 3411
Director: Dr. Vandana Thadani
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Close Relationships & Health
Close relationships and health; the self and perceptions of close relationship events; interventions to buffer people from harm from negative relationship events; experimental studies conducted in the lab involving collection of questionnaire data, video-recordings of behavioral responses, and measurement of various physiological responses (blood pressure and EKG); coding of data and data analysis; weekly training meetings with research assistants.
Location: University Hall 3401 & 3401a
Director: Dr. Maire Ford
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Cognition & Human Performance
Neuropsychological assessment as it relates to traumatic brain injury, infection with HIV, and language proficiency (e.g., in Hispanic adults); computerized tests of problem solving in binge-drinking college students, and computerized low- fidelity flight simulator multi-task performance in Air Force ROTC cadets; experimental studies on the effects of motivation on mate attractiveness and other aspects of evolved cognition and behavior.
Location: University Hall 3413
Director: Dr. David Hardy
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Exercise & Cognitive Performance
Research on the impact of aerobic exercise on cognitive functions, including memory, auditory perception, and language. This involves data collection, developing cognitive tasks, monitoring participants on a stationary bicycle, data analysis, and literature review. We also explore the neural bases of these functions using functional MRI.
Location: University Hall 4754
Director: Dr. Kayoko Okada
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Heads Up!
College student health risks; Alcohol use; Prevention, and intervention projects; Mental health; data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
Location: University Hall, 4711, 3787 & 3415
Director: Dr. Joseph LaBrie
Website: https://www.headsuplabs.com/
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Intergroup Relations
Stereotyping and prejudice; stereotype threat and health; lab does data collection of survey data, data entry, and analysis, literature retrieval, training of and meetings with research assistants, social-psychological lab experiments with carefully crafted manipulations.
Director: Dr. Adam W. Fingerhut
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Consciousness & Cognition
Study of the conscious and unconscious operations responsible for processing language and visual perception. Several research projects investigating unconscious processing, the nature of consciousness, and the role of sleep and dreams in memory and information processing.
Location: University Hall 4752
Directors: Dr. Richard Abrams
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LMU Peer Relations
Perceptions and experiences of diverse children and adolescents as well as adults. Using multiple methods – surveys, experiments, and interviews –conducted in the field, laboratory, and community. Research assistant tasks may include: 1) visiting elementary/middle/high school classrooms to recruit participants and administer the survey; 2) preparing materials for student recruitment and data collection; 3) entering and managing data; 4) library research; and 5) attending weekly lab meetings.
Location: University Hall 4715
Director: Dr. Negin Ghavami
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M3 Lab
M3Lab Measure, Model, and Modify; Phenotype, Risk, and Resilience of Neurodiverse Communities. Executive function in children, adolescents and young adults, secondary analysis of big data in autism research, data entry and analysis, literature retrieval, training of and meetings with research assistants.
Location: UH 3416
Director: Dr. Alexandra Sturm
Website: http://m3lab.lmu.build/
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Community-based participatory research and program evaluation research using mixed methods. Several projects currently in progress: Centers for Disease Control project investigating the effectiveness of a 3-part strategy to impact community safety and health; CA State Dept of Public Health 35 site project to investigate the effects of community-defined evidence-practice to reduce mental health disparities; data analysis and preparation of publications on the completed national 22 site childhood obesity in communities of color project; 18-month Communities Creating Healthy Environments national multisite phase 4 grant with Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; completion of data analysis on national network analysis and evaluation of a multi-organization project focused on collaboration across 30+ organizations involved in social justice campaigns in communities of color; and evaluation of examination of environmental and community-based strategy to provide the homeless with access to toilets, showers, laundry facilities and referrals in skid row. In addition to 2 postdocs, 4 full-time research assistants, and 3 senior researchers, we have 14 undergraduate research assistants that are employed during the year at the lab.
Location: University Hall 4725, 4726 & 4728
Director: Dr. Cheryl Grills (cheryl.grills@lmu.edu)
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Social Interaction
Dr. Nora Murphy is a social psychologist who studies nonverbal behavior and communication in social interactions. Research in her Social Interaction Lab focuses on behavioral measurement, person perception and first impressions. Much of the research involves the use of “thin-slices,” which are brief video clips of social interactions, to investigate how emotions, personality, and nonverbal behavior shape social outcomes. Generally, there are 2-4 research assistants in a given semester with a mixture of work-study students, volunteers, and research assistantships for credit. Students must have successfully completed PSYC 2002 Research Methods (B+ or above) to work in the lab; hiring is usually conducted in the semester before work begins. Interested students may email Dr. Murphy at nora.murphy@lmu.edu.
Director: Dr. Nora Murphy
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The Neuropsychology Across Cultures Lab is dedicated to advancing the understanding of how cultural factors influence brain function and cognitive processes. Our research aims to bridge the gap between neuroscience and cultural studies, providing insights into the diverse ways in which human cognition is shaped by cultural contexts.
Among our goals is the development of cross-cultural tests that accurately measure cognitive functions across diverse populations. These tests are designed to minimize cultural biases and provide a more equitable assessment of neuropsychological abilities. By creating culturally sensitive tools, we aim to enhance the accuracy and reliability of cognitive evaluations worldwide.
Location: UH 3743
Director: Dr. Alberto Luis Fernandez
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Psychosocial Risk & Resilience In Stress & Medicine (PRRISM) Research Lab
The PRRISM Research Lab focuses on a central theme of understanding how to reduce stress, stigma, and social adversity and improve health and well-being. Dr. Williamson and other members of the PRRISM lab study how some psychological and social factors can increase risk for poor health outcomes, whereas others can promote resilience in the face of stressors, including chronic medical diseases such as cancer.
Active lines of research include: 1) understanding and reducing the stigma experienced by adults with lung cancer; 2) characterizing and improving lung cancer screening uptake; 3) testing the experimental effects of self-compassion and mindfulness on outcomes such as distress, shame, and social disconnection; 4) clarifying the biobehavioral pathways through which stress and stigma confer risk for negative mental and physical health outcomes; and 5) using large-scale secondary datasets (e.g., HINTS) to investigate cancer-related beliefs and engagement in preventive care, with an emphasis on identifying social drivers of health and healthcare engagement disparities among minoritized groups.
Location: UH 4752
Director: Dr. Timothy J. Williamson