معرفی
Myra Fernandes is a Professor in the Department of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo, serving as the Research Area Head. Her work focuses on memory processes, cognitive aging, and encoding techniques, with a strong emphasis on neuroimaging and experimental psychology. She investigates how actions, drawing, and context affect memory retention, particularly in clinical populations like those with hippocampal damage or dementia. Her research also explores the cognitive and affective consequences of traumatic brain injury and the role of imagery in mental health conditions such as PTSD.
Her studies often integrate behavioral experiments with neuroimaging to uncover neural mechanisms underlying memory formation and retrieval. Recent work highlights the 'drawing effect,' demonstrating how sketching information enhances recall across ages and cognitive conditions. She advocates for rigorous methodologies in research publishing, including registered reports to improve scientific transparency.
Key research themes include the enactment effect, symbol superiority, and the impact of emotional and motoric engagement on memory. She has contributed to understanding age-related cognitive changes and the application of cognitive strategies to mitigate memory decline. Her lab's findings have implications for educational practices, clinical rehabilitation, and mental health interventions.
Publications span topics from involuntary memory's mental health links to the neurobiological basis of mnemonic strategies. She collaborates widely, bridging cognitive neuroscience with clinical and educational applications. Her work underscores the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to advancing memory science.
