Katherine Duncan

Katherine Duncan is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Undergraduate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto's St. George campus. Her research focuses on the dynamic neurobiological mechanisms underlying memory formation and retrieval, particularly the interplay between hippocampal networks and neuromodulatory systems.

Education:

• PhD in Psychology from New York University (hippocampal subfield specialization)
• Postdoctoral Research at Columbia University (hippocampus-dopamine interactions)
• Undergraduate Alumna of the University of Toronto

Research Focus: The Duncan Lab investigates how slow neurochemical fluctuations and brain oscillations (particularly theta rhythms) temporally structure memory processes. Their work explores state-dependent learning, age-related changes in network specialization, and the clinical implications for attention disorders and neurodegenerative conditions.

Scientific Recognition:

• Canada Research Chair renewal
• Glushko Senior Thesis Award (advised student Tien Yang)
• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship (lab alumnus Alexandera Decker)
• NSERC and Ontario Graduate Scholarships (students Matt, Mila, Ethina Islam)

Research Trends: Recent publications emphasize three key areas: 1) attentional modulation of memory encoding across developmental stages, 2) computational approaches to neural state segmentation in fMRI, and 3) rhythmic dynamics in memory acquisition across health and disease. These works bridge basic cognitive neuroscience with translational applications.

Laboratory Team: The lab includes graduate students Mila Mac Neil, Thomas, Catalina, and Robyn, with alumni transitioning to prestigious positions like Tien Yang's PhD at the University of Michigan and Sanjivan Loganathan's Masters at Western University's Culham Lab. Dr. Connie Solidate currently contributes as visiting scholar.