The goal of the Georgia Tech research training program is to produce researchers in basic and applied aspects of cognitive aging who can contribute to expanding knowledge about the effects of aging and age- correlated variables on cognition. A full understanding of the functional capabilities of older adults in the next decades is critical for managing a population that is increasingly older, and whose functional abilities may differ from older adults who have gone before. It requires scientific theory and method that can analyze structural changes in cognition as a function of aging, while at the same time understanding how individuals create their own functional context by use of knowledge, expertise, and adaptation to the constraints that aging places on cognitive structures and mechanisms. The training program at Georgia Tech emphasizes a concurrent understanding of the different biological, psychological, and social influences on older adults'functional cognitive capacity. The faculty provides expertise in a diverse set of domains of cognition, including memory, language, attention, social cognition, and problem solving, as well as advanced methods for characterizing experimental and correlational designs and data relevant to understanding adult cognitive development. A special strength of the program is a focus on applied cognitive aging, including systematic examination of how older adults view and interact with technology, instructions, and assistive devices. Trainees are exposed to core courses in cognitive and developmental psychology, extensive coursework on methods and statistics, specialty courses in cognitive aging, weekly research seminars, and colloquia by visiting scientists. They are also directly involved in the research programs of some of the leading scientists in this field. Eight core faculty members comprise the preceptors of the training grant who have primary responsibility for training and advising predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees. The program at Georgia Tech has added new strength in cognitive neuroscience, with new facilities and new faculty recruitment planned for the immediate future. Support for 6 predoctoral trainees and 3 postdoctoral trainees is requested.

Public Health Relevance

As older adults become an increasing proportion of the population, society needs to (a) draw on older adults'knowledge, wisdom, and experience, and (b) contain health care costs by maximizing adults'functional autonomy and competence. Training scientists how to do research on cognitive aging can increase rates of successful aging and prolong effective functioning in older adults.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
2T32AG000175-21A1
Application #
7631693
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAG1-ZIJ-7 (J4))
Program Officer
King, Jonathan W
Project Start
1988-07-01
Project End
2014-04-30
Budget Start
2009-05-01
Budget End
2010-04-30
Support Year
21
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$328,286
Indirect Cost
Name
Georgia Institute of Technology
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
097394084
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30332
Hertzog, Christopher; Smith, R Marit; Ariel, Robert (2018) Does the Cognitive Reflection Test actually capture heuristic versus analytic reasoning styles in older adults? Exp Aging Res 44:18-34
Strunk, Jonathan; Morgan, Lauren; Reaves, Sarah et al. (2018) Retrospective attention in short-term memory has a lasting effect on long-term memory across age. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci :
Ariel, Robert; Moffat, Scott D (2018) Age-related similarities and differences in monitoring spatial cognition. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn 25:351-377
Ariel, Robert; Lembeck, Natalie A; Moffat, Scott et al. (2018) Are there Sex Differences in Confidence and Metacognitive Monitoring Accuracy for Everyday, Academic, and Psychometrically Measured Spatial Ability? Intelligence 70:42-51
Strunk, Jonathan; James, Taylor; Arndt, Jason et al. (2017) Age-related changes in neural oscillations supporting context memory retrieval. Cortex 91:40-55
McGlynn, Sean A; Kemple, Shawn; Mitzner, Tracy L et al. (2017) Understanding the Potential of PARO for Healthy Older Adults. Int J Hum Comput Stud 100:33-47
Corbett, Brittany; Weinberg, Lisa; Duarte, Audrey (2017) The effect of mild acute stress during memory consolidation on emotional recognition memory. Neurobiol Learn Mem 145:34-44
Ennis, Gilda E; An, Yang; Resnick, Susan M et al. (2017) Long-term cortisol measures predict Alzheimer disease risk. Neurology 88:371-378
Wong, Stephanie; Irish, Muireann; Leshikar, Eric D et al. (2017) The self-reference effect in dementia: Differential involvement of cortical midline structures in Alzheimer's disease and behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia. Cortex 91:169-185
Ennis, Gilda E; Moffat, Scott D; Hertzog, Christopher (2016) The cortisol awakening response and cognition across the adult lifespan. Brain Cogn 105:66-77

Showing the most recent 10 out of 59 publications