Karin H. James

Karin H. James is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington's College of Arts and Sciences, actively reviewing applications for Fall 2026 admissions. Her research program investigates how self-generated actions shape cognitive development through neural mechanisms.

Her educational background includes:

• Post Doctoral Fellow, Vanderbilt University (2001-2003)
• Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Western Ontario (2001)
• M.A. in Psychology, University of Western Ontario (1998)
• B.S. in Psychology, University of Toronto (1996)
• B.A. in History, University of Toronto (1991)

Dr. James' research centers on the neural correlates of learning, specifically how motor experience influences visual recognition across domains including object recognition, reading acquisition, language learning, and mathematical understanding. Using fMRI and behavioral methods, she examines how sensorimotor interactions during symbol production (e.g., handwriting) reconfigure brain networks for perception. Her work demonstrates that visual-motor contingency during learning creates lasting neural changes that enhance recognition, with implications for educational practices in literacy and numeracy development.

Analysis of her 2018-2021 publications reveals consistent focus on embodied cognition principles, particularly how action-perception loops establish neural representations. Key themes include gesture-based learning in mathematics, visual-motor integration in symbol recognition, and category formation mechanisms, bridging cognitive neuroscience with developmental psychology through innovative methodologies like the MRItab neuroimaging tool.

Dr. James maintains active membership in the Society for Research in Child Development (2007-present), Cognitive Neuroscience Society (2004-present), and Vision Sciences Society (2000-present), reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to learning mechanisms.

As Director of Graduate Studies, she oversees program development and student mentorship while leading the Cognition and Action Neuroimaging Lab. Her research infrastructure includes specialized neuroimaging tools developed for naturalistic experimental paradigms, supporting investigations into how embodied experiences shape cognitive architecture from childhood through adulthood.

The Cognition and Action Neuroimaging Lab develops cutting-edge methodologies like the MRItab touchscreen system to study naturalistic learning during fMRI scanning, focusing on how sensorimotor experiences during symbol production reconfigure neural networks for perception and recognition across developmental stages.