Matthew Grilli

Matthew Grilli is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona, where he directs the Clinical Program, Neuropsychology Minor, and Human Memory Lab. His research spans the neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience of autobiographical memory, imagination, and cognitive aging, with a focus on disorders like amnesia and Alzheimer’s disease.

His work investigates individual differences in autobiographical thought, the impact of aging on memory specificity, and innovative neuropsychological assessment methods. Recent publications highlight aging-related changes in memory dynamics, brain structure-function relationships, and real-world applications such as phishing vulnerability and bilingualism’s role in cognitive aging.

Grilli’s research utilizes naturalistic observation and computational approaches (e.g., latent brain state analysis, large language models) to study memory coherence, emotional simulation, and intergenerational conversations. He is also involved in developing tools like the Phishing Email Suspicion Test (PEST) to assess cognitive mechanisms in aging populations.

The Human Memory Lab under his direction explores memory’s intersection with well-being, identity, and brain health, employing multimodal methodologies to address both theoretical and applied questions in cognitive neuroscience.