معرفی
Dr. Alison Mary is an FNRS Research Associate at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Faculty of Psychological and Educational Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology, since October 2023. She is affiliated with the Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Research Unit (UR2NF), which operates within the Centre de Recherche Cerveau et Cognition (CRCN) and the ULB Neurosciences Institute (UNI). Her research focuses on memory processes and their cerebral underpinnings, particularly in the context of healthy aging and resilience following acute stress.
Dr. Mary completed her PhD in January 2016 at UR2nF/CRCN under Professor Philippe Peigneux. From November 2016 to October 2019, she conducted postdoctoral research at the U1077 Unit (Neuropsychology and Imaging of Human Memory – NIMH) in Caen, France, under Dr. Pierre Gagnepain, investigating neurobiological markers of resilience in survivors of the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks.
Dr. Mary's research centers on understanding brain mechanisms supporting memory processes in healthy aging using functional connectivity and resting state networks. She investigates non-pharmacological stimulation strategies, particularly transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation, to promote neuroplasticity and memory in aging populations. Her work examines how sleep architecture, meditation, and cognitive training impact memory processes in older adults, employing advanced neuroimaging techniques including MEG and EEG.
Analysis of Dr. Mary's recent publications reveals a strong focus on the intersection of memory, aging, and neuroimaging. Her research increasingly incorporates transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation to enhance memory processes, while examining how sleep architecture relates to memory consolidation. She also investigates cognitive resilience following acute stress and trauma, exploring neural mechanisms that preserve memory function despite traumatic experiences.
- FNRS Research Associate Fellowship (2023-present)
- FNRS Postdoctoral Fellowship (2019-2023)
Dr. Mary actively supervises doctoral research, including Benkirane's work on sleep fragmentation and cognition, and Hamel's research on sleep characteristics in older adults. She collaborates extensively within the UR2NF research unit and with international colleagues on memory, aging, and neuroimaging projects. Her laboratory utilizes MEG, EEG, and functional MRI to investigate brain mechanisms underlying memory processes, with future work likely focusing on personalized non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive aging.
