Our research primarily concerns how memories evolve over time, how the neural reorganization of knowledge may impact other cognitive processes, and how processes active during sleep contribute to these changes. These questions are investigated using behavioral and electrophysiological methods in healthy adults, patients with sleep disorders, and in aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Ongoing projects are examining:

• how the emotional state (i.e., mood) of an individual before sleep influences which memories are strengthened during sleep
• how sleep contributes to facilitated problem solving after sleep
• how memories for faces from different ethnic categories change across time
• how sleep apnea influences sleep-dependent memory consolidation
• whether a brief nap can mitigate stress