Our research, funded by a £1 million grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), aims to develop evidence-based strategy training to boost memory and thinking skills (‘cognition’) throughout the adult lifespan.
The abilities underlying daily functioning typically decline gradually as we age. For example, we may experience more short-term memory slips (e.g., “What did I come into this room for?”). However, the ways in which we approach daily tasks, such as using particular strategies, can help to maintain our thinking skills and even delay the onset of impairment and dementia. The World Health Organisation has tentatively recommended cognitive interventions for tackling cognitive decline, but more research is needed to inform future interventions.
Using a combination of lab-based studies, brain imaging/eye-tracking techniques and ‘real-world’ experiments, our research examines how strategies can enhance younger and older adults cognitive functioning. Ultimately, this can inform the development of accessible, cost-effective and scalable methods for boosting memory and cognition as we age.
You can read more about our ongoing research projects below:
Developing a real-world visual memory task for use in research
We used artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D modelling software to create a “real-world” visual memory task for use in research (read more here).
The impact of age and strategy use on visual memory
At the University of Strathclyde, we conducted research with over 400 younger and older adults exploring how strategy use impacts visual memory as we age (read more here).