Mercedes Fernandez

Dr. Mercedes Fernandez serves as a full-time Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Nova Southeastern University's College of Psychology, where she conducts cutting-edge research on human neuroplasticity and bilingual cognition.

Her academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. from the University of Arizona
• M.A. from Florida Atlantic University
• B.A. from Florida International University

Dr. Fernandez's research program investigates how bilingualism shapes neural inhibitory control mechanisms through electroencephalographic and neuropsychological methodologies. She examines the relationship between second language proficiency and frontal-lobe function, with recent studies comparing monolingual and bilingual performance on cognitive tasks. Her work explores whether bilingual experience confers advantages in executive function and how the brain adapts to language processing demands, using EEG to capture real-time neural activity during cognitive challenges. Though no formal lab name is specified, her research group employs advanced neuroimaging techniques to study neurophysiological changes during therapy and cognitive tasks.

Students working with Dr. Fernandez gain hands-on experience with EEG technology and neuropsychological assessment protocols, contributing to research that bridges cognitive neuroscience and clinical applications in bilingual populations.