Our Faculty

headshot of Ian M. McDonough

Ian M. McDonough

Associate Professor

Psychology

Background

Accepting graduate students for Fall 2024.

Summary of Research

The Memory, Aging, and Cognitive Control Research Laboratory aims to better understand how episodic memory and other cognitive processes differ across the adult lifespan. Much of our research tries to dissect environmental and lifestyle factors that affect physical health and brain health in a bidirectional manner. We investigate how such factors play a causal role in either protecting or enhancing one's risk during both healthy aging and neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

Techniques 

To better understand the mind, our lab uses a variety of different techniques including experimental manipulations of behavior, neuropsychological tests, brain stimulation, and neuroimaging including both structural and functional scanning. We also use multivariate analysis techniques including partial least squares, machine learning, barycentric discriminant analysis and latent profile analysis.

Education

  • Postdoctoral Researcher, Center for Vital Longevity, Dallas, TX
  • PhD, MA, University of Chicago
  • BS, University of California, Los Angeles

Research Interests

  • Episodic Memory
  • Aging
  • Structural and Functional Neuroimaging
  • Biomarkers of Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease
  • Health Disparities

Awards

  • 2021 Excellence in Advising Award
  • 2020 Chair’s Award for Distinguished Research
  • 2017 Charles Barkley Health Disparities Research Investigator Award
  • 2016 NIH/OBSSR Matilda White Riley Early Stage Investigator Honors
  • 2016 Sentinels of Science: Psychology Award

More Info

McDonough Laboratory Webpage

Research Profile

Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae