Welcome to the Controlled Attention and Memory (CAM) Lab at the University of Notre Dame!
Mission
In the CAM Lab, we investigate the reasons for normal variation in cognitive abilities as well as within-person variation in cognitive performance across various timescales. We conduct research through a combination of correlational, experimental, and psychophysiological approaches. Our overaching goal is to arrive at a better understanding of how the cognitive system operates, why it succeeds, why it fails, and how it can be improved through intervention. Our research program incorporates and encourages training of both graduate and undergraduate students as well as postdoctoral researchers.
Research Questions
- What are the psychological and physiological mechanisms that underlie individual differences in cognitive abilities?
- What factors influence cognitive performance, such as arousal, stress, motivation, fatigue?
- How can we improve cognition through interventions such as goal-setting, feedback, and training?
- How can we use psychophysiological tools to gain further insight into the mechanisms of memory and attention that are otherwise unobservable via behavior?
Want to join the lab?
If you would like to join the lab as a research assistant, please visit our Join page to complete a form. If you would like to participate in one of our (paid!) research studies, please review our Research Projects page for more information. The lab is located on the 3rd floor of Corbett Family Hall on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.
Values
- Theoretically driven advancement through carefully controlled experiments, which allow for a precise conclusions regarding underlying mechanisms
- Transparency, openness, and reproducibility via publicly shared datasets, stimulus presentation software, and analysis scripts
- Hands-on training through in-person laboratory activities, meetings, and both directed and independent research projects
