After 10 years as a PI in research on cognitive impairments following stroke, and some recent preliminary work on cognition in AIzheimer's disease (AD), l have decided to turn my attention more fully towards the dementias. Although cognitive neuroscience has generally concentrated on focal brain damage, I believe that AD and other dementias, including Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and semantic dementia, have much to teach us about the functioning of the normal mind and its neural substrates, particularly with respect to semantic memory and visual cognition, my two areas of specialization. In addition, the dementias represent a major public health problem, and the cognitive neuroscience approach may be able to contribute towards solutions to this problem. I am therefore requesting support to undertake five years of study, research, and career development in the cognitive neuroscience of dementia. During this period I will carry out the proposed research on semantic memory and visual cognition in AD while learning more about AD and other dementias. My goal is to become as competent in research on dementia as I am now in research on focal brain damage, and thereby to contribute to our basic-science understanding of the dementias and to advances in the diagnosis and management of these diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research (K02)
Project #
5K02AG000756-04
Application #
6168640
Study Section
National Institute on Aging Initial Review Group (NIA)
Program Officer
Buckholtz, Neil
Project Start
1997-09-15
Project End
2002-08-31
Budget Start
2000-09-30
Budget End
2001-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$76,032
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Gillihan, Seth J; Kessler, Jennifer; Farah, Martha J (2007) Memories affect mood: evidence from covert experimental assignment to positive, neutral, and negative memory recall. Acta Psychol (Amst) 125:144-54
Gillihan, Seth J; Farah, Martha J (2005) Is self special? A critical review of evidence from experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Psychol Bull 131:76-97
Farah, M J; Wilson, K D; Drain, M et al. (1998) What is ""special"" about face perception? Psychol Rev 105:482-98
Thompson-Schill, S L; D'Esposito, M; Aguirre, G K et al. (1997) Role of left inferior prefrontal cortex in retrieval of semantic knowledge: a reevaluation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 94:14792-7