Caitlin R. Bowman

Caitlin R. Bowman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), with affiliations in the Neuroscience program. She is actively involved in the Neuroscience PhD program and is recruiting new graduate students for Fall 2025. Her research is conducted through the CABILab, which focuses on memory and aging.

Education:

• Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University, 2015

Dr. Bowman's research centers on the cognitive and neural mechanisms of human memory, particularly how memory specificity and the ability to form new knowledge change with age. She investigates how individuals link related experiences to generalize concepts and make flexible decisions. Her work combines behavioral experiments, computational modeling, and advanced neuroimaging techniques such as model-based fMRI and multivariate pattern analysis. The goal is to understand age-related memory decline and to develop strategies to support learning and decision-making across the lifespan.

Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on hippocampal and prefrontal contributions to memory specificity, generalization, and retrieval processes. The studies explore topics such as recollection rejection, novelty processing, and the effects of aging on neural discriminability and functional connectivity. The research consistently integrates cognitive theory with neuroimaging data to uncover the brain mechanisms underlying memory.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in the provided text.

Dr. Bowman advises graduate students in the Neuroscience PhD program and leads an active research lab. While specific grant information is not mentioned, her ongoing publications and lab activity suggest active funding and research support. She collaborates with researchers such as Dagmar Zeithamova and Nancy Dennis, indicating strong interdisciplinary engagement.

She leads the CABILab at UWM (http://www.cabilab-uwm.com/), which conducts empirical and computational research on memory and aging. The lab uses behavioral tasks and fMRI to study how the brain supports memory generalization and specificity, with implications for cognitive health in older adults.