معرفی
Ken Paller is Professor of Psychology and Director of the Cognitive Neuroscience Program at Northwestern University, where he holds the James Padilla Chair in Arts & Sciences. He serves as Associate Director of the NIH/NINDS-funded Training Program in the Neuroscience of Human Cognition, dedicated to training future cognitive neuroscientists.
Dr. Paller's research focuses on the intricate relationships between brain activity and conscious experience, particularly investigating how memories are formed, stored, and re-experienced. His laboratory has pioneered methods to strategically influence the mind during sleep to improve memory, creativity, and psychological well-being. His work spans multiple domains including memory consolidation during sleep, targeted memory reactivation, lucid dreaming research, and the neural correlates of conscious experience. Notably, he collaborates with Tibetan Monastic Scholars in research on sleep and dreaming, bridging scientific and contemplative traditions.
Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on sleep-dependent memory processes, with particular emphasis on targeted memory reactivation techniques, dream manipulation, and memory modification during sleep. His research demonstrates how sleep can be leveraged to enhance cognitive functions and potentially treat conditions like nightmares in narcolepsy.
Dr. Paller received the prestigious Director's Pioneer Award from NIH in 2024 and holds the James Padilla Chair in Arts & Sciences at Northwestern University. His work has garnered significant media attention, featured in outlets including BBC World Service, The World Science Festival, Discover Magazine, NY Times, LA Times, The Economist, NPR Science Friday, and CBC Radio.
As Director of the Cognitive Neuroscience Program and Associate Director of the NIH-funded Training Program, Dr. Paller plays a significant role in mentoring the next generation of cognitive neuroscientists. His Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (CNL) conducts cutting-edge research at the intersection of sleep science, memory research, and consciousness studies, with implications for both basic science and clinical applications.
