Lab Members

AD&D Lab 2023 Summer Social

LAB DIRECTOR

Dr. Nichole Lighthall is an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology Ph.D. program. She holds a B.A. in psychology from the UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. in gerontology from the University of Southern California. Before coming to UCF, Dr. Lighthall completed her postdoctoral training at Duke University in the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, with a postdoctoral fellowship from the Duke Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development. The goal of her research program is to develop a neural model of decision processing that can be used to identify age-related vulnerabilities and pathways to compensation. She is particularly interested in how age-related changes to cognitive and affective components of decision making impact decision processing and quality. Dr. Lighthall is also a Co-Director of the Scientific Research Network on Decision Neuroscience & Aging and director of the UCF Learning & Longevity Research Network participant registry for Orlando-area older adults.

**Dr. Lighthall will be considering PhD student applicants during the 2023-2024 admission cycle. Applicants must apply to the UCF Human Factors & Cognitive Psychology PhD Program.

Courses Taught:

• Cognitive Psychology (undergraduate): EXP 3604 (formats: F2F, MM, W)
• Motivation & Emotion (undergraduate): EXP 3304 (formats: MM, W)
• Neuroanatomical Basis of Psychological Function (graduate): PSB 6348 (formats: F2F)
• Neuroimaging Design and Analysis Methods (graduate): PSB 6352 (formats: F2F)

phone: 407-823-2216

email: nichole.lighthall[at]ucf[dot]edu

POSTDOCS

Shensheng Wang is a postdoc in the Adult Development and Decision Lab. Born and raised in Tianjin, China, Shensheng received his B.S. from Nankai University and his Ph.D. from Emory University, where he worked with Dr. Philippe Rochat on infant perceptual development. Shensheng’s research interests broadly lie in humanness perception, which encompasses both attributing human characteristics to nonhuman agents (e.g., anthropomorphism) and denying human traits to others (e.g., dehumanization). In collaboration with Dr. Nichole Lighthall, Shensheng is interested in examining neurocognitive processes that might underpin trust-related decision-making in aging and the extent to which these processes manifest differently in social and nonsocial contexts. Shensheng’s ResearchGate

DOCTORAL STUDENTS

Lindsay Conner is completing her Ph.D. in the Cognitive Neuroscience track of the Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology program. Originally from Florida, she studied neuroscience at University of Miami, followed by a Master’s program in Biomedical Imaging at University of California, San Francisco. Her research delves into mapping the influence of age-related changes in functional recruitment and structural integrity on episodic memory and value processing across adulthood. In particular, Lindsay is interested in applying neuroimaging methods (e.g., task fMRI, rs-fMRI, MRI, DTI, PET) toward identifying biomarkers of cognitive decline and potential compensatory mechanisms across healthy aging relative to the early development of Alzheimer’s disease. Lindsay’s ORCiD Lindsay’s ResearchGate

Jordan Schotz is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology program on the Cognitive Neuroscience Track. Originally from Wisconsin, he holds a B.A. in Psychology from Webster Vienna Private University in Vienna, Austria. He is currently pursuing two main lines of research; the first involves trust-related learning in contexts where visual cues are along the social-nonsocial spectrum and the represented agent is also somewhere along the social-nonsocial spectrum. Second, his dissertation work will address biased belief by applying satisfaction of search to various contexts of misinformation. After graduation, his plans are to conduct research and teach in academia at a liberal arts institution. Jordan’s LinkedIn

Shayna Soares is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology program. She obtained her B.S. in Psychology on the Neuroscience track from UCF in 2019 while working with Dr. Corey Bohil in the Classification and Decision Laboratory. Her primary research interests are in applying decision making and categorization theories to topics of a more political nature to provide a deeper understanding of political cognition issues (i.e., misinformation spread, increased polarization, and party label bias) as well as involving the use of neuroimaging techniques (fNIRS) to better understand the underlying neural correlates associated. Shayna’s LinkedInShayna’s ORCID

 

Maggie Doheny is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology program at UCF. In 2021, she graduated from the University of Alabama with a B.S. in Psychology and Neuroscience, and worked in Dr. Laura Morett’s N.E.R.D. Lab as an undergraduate research assistant. She then worked as a post-baccalaureate research assistant in Dr. Heather Risser’s Family CARE and Parenting Lab in the Psychiatry Department at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Here at the Adult Development and Decision Lab, her interests include applications of brain mapping and social cognitive neuroscience on trust and empathy in the context of decision making. Maggie’s LinkedInMaggie’s ORCID

LAB MANAGER

Zounaira Shahzad recently graduated summa cum laude from UCF with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences. She is currently working on the Florida consortium to reduce misinformation and exploitation in Alzheimer’s Disease project. Additionally, her research interests also include healthcare disparities, and clinical psychology. She plans on attending medical school after graduation.

POST-BACCALAUREATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Amber Blount recently graduated from UCF with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience Psychology, with a minor in Medical Sociology. She is current post-baccalaureate research assistant with Dr. Lighthall and Dr. Ladda Thiamwong (UCF Nursing) on a collaborative NIH-funded intervention to reduce fall risk in older adults. Amber’s research interests include cognitive reframing and investigating the disparities between perception and behavior. Amber’s LinkedIn

Samantha Tun is a first-year medical student at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. In 2021, she graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in Neuroscience and Behavior and a minor in East Asian Languages and Culture. Before matriculating to med school, she worked as a research associate in the Fredericks Lab at Yale University for two years, investigating how advanced neuroimaging techniques can be used to understand how Alzheimer’s disease spreads across brain networks. Her interests at the Adult Developmental and Decision Lab include utilizing multimodal neuroimaging to better understand brain networks and understanding the neurological basis of executive function and emotional modulation.

Carla Leinbach holds a B.S. from Illinois State University and an M.B.A. from Wake Forest University. Volunteering as Community Outreach Coordinator, she enjoys connecting with participants and communicating her love of life-long learning. Currently a student at UCF, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology, Neuroscience track. Carla’s research interests include motivation and how neural-net-based Artificial Intelligence adoption impacts intrinsic motivation.

Justin Barolette is a fourth-year undergraduate Psychology major at UCF. He is interested in Clinical Psychology and hopes to pursue his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and work with children with Autism. His other areas of interest include Behavioral Psychology and Psychopathology.

Milena Alvarado Giler is a fourth-year student majoring in psychology on the neuroscience track. Her research interest includes behavioral neuroscience, imaging cognitive psychology and neuropsychology related to children. She plans to obtain a post-baccalaureate position before pursuing a PhD program.

Ailliy Garcia is a third-year transfer student at UCF pursuing a degree in Biomedical Science with a certificate in Anthropology Global Health. Her research interests include cognitive neuroscience & neurocognitive disorders. She is currently working as a research assistant on the Florida consortium to reduce misinformation and exploitation in Alzheimer’s Disease project. Ailliy has plans on attending medical school to become a neurosurgeon.

Sydney Gillis is a senior at UCF majoring in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Statistics. Her academic interests include developmental psychology, clinical psychology, forensic psychology, and psychopathology. Her research interests including how external factors influence our behavior over time. Sydney is currently working as a research assistant on the NIH project which will study trust-based decision making as we age. After graduating, she plans on pursing a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling.

Samantha Tyler is a Senior in the Burnett Honors College at UCF. She is majoring in Psychology on the General Track, with a minor in Music. Her interests include social, developmental, personality, and physiological psychology. After graduation, she hopes to pursue graduate school to further her understanding of the field of psychology and get more hands-on experience.

Jasmine Dave is a junior at UCF. She is currently pursuing a double major in Biology and Psychology. Her research interests include neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience. She plans on attending medical school after graduation to specialize in Neurology.

Nicolette Pelchat is a third-year student majoring in Clinical Psychology and minoring in Early Childhood Development and Education and Human Services. Her research interests include developmental psychology, personality, cognitive psychology, learning, memory, and aging. After graduating, she plans on pursuing a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling or School Psychology.

Miranda Kraenzlin is a second-year student majoring in Psychology on the Neuroscience track and minoring in Cognitive Sciences. She works as a registered behavior technician providing therapy to children with autism and has a research interest in behavioral, developmental, and cognitive psychology. After graduation, she plans to work professionally before pursuing a PhD program.