Megan L. Hoffman, M.A. Doctoral Student, Comparative Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, Georgia State University Research Interests  My research is in the general area of comparative psychology, with a specific emphasis on the study of memory across species, including nonhuman primates. The research I am currently working on is an extension of my Master's thesis research, examining the integration of spatial, temporal and object information in rhesus monkeys. The ability to integrate multiple components (what, where, and when) from unique past events in memory is one prerequisites for episodic memory, and therefore provides a useful starting point in investigating this memory system in animals. I am also currently doing comparative research on source memory in rhesus monkeys. I also have interests in a parallel line of research examining how animals represent spatial information in memory, specifically comparing the use of egocentric and allocentric memory processes. Examining how animals represent spatial information in memory is integral to the comparative study of episodic-like memory; remembering past events involves the integration of spatial and temporal information in memory. Studying how these separate components are encoded in memory forms a foundation for understanding how these components can become integrated in the form of episodic memories.
Educational Background M.A., Psychology, Georgia State University, 2007, Mater's Thesis: Memory for "What", "Where" and "When" Information by Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and adult humans. Teaching Experience Instructor of Record, Cognitive Psychology, Georgia State University, Fall 2009 Instructor of Record, Introduction to General Psychology, Georgia State University, Fall 2008 Instructor of Record, Introduction to General Psychology, Georgia State University, Spring 2009 Teaching Assistant, Research Methods in Psychology Lab, Georgia State University, Spring 2009 Teaching Assistant, Research Methods in Psychology Lab, Georgia State University, Spring 2008 Teaching Assistant, Research Methods in Psychology Lab, Georgia State University, Fall 2007 Teaching Assistant, Introduction to General Psychology, Georgia State University, Spring 2005 Teaching Assistant, Introduction to General Psychology, Georgia State University, Fall 2004 Journal Publications Hoffman, M.L., Beran. M.J., & Washburn, D.A. (2009). Memory for "what", "where", and "when" information in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes. Hoffman, M.L. & Beran. M.J. (2007). Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) remember the location of a hidden food item after altering their orientation to a spatial array. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 120, 389-393. Schwartz, B.L., Hoffman, M.L., & Evans, S. (2005). Episodic-like memory in a gorilla: A review and new findings. Learning and Motvation: Special Issue: Cognitive Time Travel in People and Animals, 36, 226-244. Schwartz, B.L., Meissner, C.M., Hoffman, M.L., Evans, S, & Frazier, L.D. (2004). Event memory and information effects in a gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Animal Cognition, 7, 93-100.
Conference Presentations Hoffman,
M.L., Beran, M.J., & Washburn, D.A. (2009). Source Monitoring in
Rhesus Monkeys. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern
Society of Philosophy and Psychology, Savannah, GA. Hoffman, M.L. (2008). Memory for What, Where, and When Information in Rhesus Monkeys. Invited talk to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA. Hoffman, M.L., Beran, M.J., & Washburn, D.A. (2008). What-Where-When Memory in Rhesus Monkeys: Presenting Sequential Events to Examine the Role of Relative Familiarity. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Society of Philosophy and Psychology, New Orleans, LA. Menzel, C.R.,Menzel, E.W., Kelley, J.W., Chan, B., Hoffman, M.L., & Hunsberger, S.A. (2008). Selection of Multi- destination Foraging Routes by Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Society of Philosophy Philosophy and Psychology, New Orleans, LA. Hoffman, M.L. & Beran, M.J., Washburn, D.A. (2007). Working memory for what-where-when information in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Society of Philosophy and Psychology, Atlanta, GA. Menzel, C.R., Kelley, J.W., Chan, B., Hoffman, M.L., Hunsburger, S.A. & Meznel, E.W. (2007). Selection of multi-destination routes by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Primatologists, Winston-Salem, NC. Menzel, C.R., Kelley, J.W., Hunsberger, S.A., Chan, B., Hoffman, M.L., Menzel, E.W. Jr. (2007). A chimpanzee as a traveling salesman’s director. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Society of Philosophy and Psychology, Atlanta, GA. Hoffman, M.L., Beran, M.J., & Washburn, D.A. (2006). Working memory for “what” and “where” information in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Society of Philosophy and Psychology, Charleston, S.C. Schwartz, B.L., Hoffman, M.L., Allen, M., Lane, J.D., & Cherry, H. (2005). Working memory in lar gibbons (Hylobagtes lar). Paper presented at the 12th Annual International Conference on Comparative Cognition, Melbourne, FL. Hoffman, M.L., Gulledge, J., Kane, M.P., & Washburn, D.A. (2005). Visuospatial working memory span: A comparative assessment. Paper presented at the 87th Annual Meeting of the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology, Durham, NC. Schwartz, B.L., Hoffman, M.L., Tessier, G.P. (2004). Delayed matching-to-sample in golden-lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia). Paper presented at the 11th Annual International Conference on Comparative Cognition, Melbourne. FL. Schwartz, B.L., Meissner, C.A., Hoffman, M.L., Evans, S., & Frazier, L.D. (2003). Trial-unique learning and episodic-like memory in gorillas. Paper presented at the 10th Annual International Conference on Comparative Cognition, Melbourne, FL. Conference Posters Hoffman, M.L., Beran, M.J., & Washburn, D.A. (2007). Working memory for what-where-when information in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Poster presented at the 14th Annual International Conference on Comparative Cognition, Melbourne, FL. Hoffman, M.L. & Beran, M.J. (2006). Chimpanzees remember food locations after changing their orientation. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA. Hoffman, M.L. & Schwartz, B.L. (2004). Communication of where an event occurred by a gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Poster presented at the 11th Annual International Conference on Comparative Cognition, Melbourne, FL Contact Info: Megan L. Hoffman Department of Psychology Georgia State University P.O. Box 5010 Atlanta, GA 30302-5010 Email: mhoffman5@gsu.edu |