Mercedes Oliva

Mercedes Oliva, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of Portland. Her research focuses on cognitive mechanisms underlying creative thinking, problem-solving, and their variations across populations (e.g., ADHD), individual differences (e.g., executive function), and contexts (e.g., AI and internet use). She holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College.

Her work explores how executive function relates to mental fixation and creativity, with recent studies examining pupillary responses in ADHD, internet’s impact on creative thinking, and prenatal factors influencing ADHD. Oliva integrates current research into her teaching, emphasizing evidence-based learning strategies and modern findings.

Publications highlight themes such as neurophysiological measures in ADHD, memory inhibition, and technology’s role in cognition. She advocates for a liberal arts environment, aligning with her educational background.