Jennifer O'Brien

Jennifer O'Brien is an Associate Professor and Chair of the St. Petersburg campus in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Florida. She is a key researcher in cognitive neuroscience, focusing on attention, perception, decision-making, and cognitive aging. Her work integrates behavioral and EEG methodologies to explore how motivation influences attention across the lifespan.

Research Interests: Dr. O'Brien's research centers on the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying human perception and attention, particularly how motivational value shapes information processing. She investigates these processes in both healthy aging and pathological cognitive decline, with a strong emphasis on early detection and intervention for Alzheimer’s disease. Her work bridges fundamental cognitive science with clinical applications in aging and neurodegeneration.

Publication Trends: Her recent publications reflect a strong trajectory in cognitive aging, EEG-based cognitive assessment, and clinical trials of cognitive training interventions. The research consistently applies neurophysiological methods to understand attentional efficiency, auditory and visual processing, and cognitive resilience in older adults, particularly in the context of Alzheimer’s prevention.

• Scientific Awards:
• Outstanding Advisor Award

Grants and Advising: Dr. O'Brien has secured substantial funding, including a $44.5-million NIA grant in 2021 and a $24.3-million NIA grant in 2022 for large-scale clinical trials on Alzheimer’s prevention through cognitive training. She is recognized for her mentorship and has trained numerous students in psychological research methods and experimental design, earning her the Outstanding Advisor Award.

Lab and Research Team: She leads the Motivated Attention and Perception Lab at the University of South Florida, where she collaborates with researchers such as J.D. Edwards, J.J. Lister, and others. Her team conducts interdisciplinary research combining cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and gerontology to advance understanding of attentional mechanisms in aging.