Research

Creativity, Attention, and Memory Lab (CAMlab)

My research explores how people generate original ideas, solve problems creatively, and connect concepts through analogy and metaphor. I use experimental methods to understand the cognitive processes causing mental fixation in these situations, as well as what conditions mitigate this mental fixation. Some topics include the effects of exposure to example ideas on creativity, and the role of forgetting in reducing the accessibility of obvious information. I have also recently begun to explore meta-cognition as it relates to creative problem solving.

Former Undergraduate Lab Members at Union College

Student Projects:

Tam Vu Chi (Summer Research Fellow), Summer 2023

Project title: Different types of mental loads and their effect on mental fixation in memory retrieval and idea generation

Aida Girma (Thesis student), Fall 2022-Winter 2023, Student Research Grant Recipient

Thesis title: The role of parenting style in overcoming mental fixation in idea generation

Brandon Mitchell (Thesis student), Fall 2022-Winter 2023, Student Research Grant Recipient

Thesis title: Does an exercise-filled incubation period facilitate creative problem solving?

Lili Mihajlovits (Sophomore Research Project), Spring 2022

Project title: The Role of Multiple Identities in Creativity

Andrew Fox (Thesis student), Fall 2021- Winter 2022, Student Research Grant Recipient

Thesis title: Effects of a Creative Thinking Induction on Critical Reasoning

Rebecca Tegiacchi (Seward Fellow), Fall 2021-Winter 2022, Student Research Grant Recipient

Project title: Effects of Musical Experience on Prosodic Production

Abigail Cardello (Thesis student), Fall 2020-Winter 2021, Student Research Grant Recipient

Thesis title: Effects of ADHD on Generative and Elaborative Aspects of Creativity

Madyson Whitney (Thesis student), Fall 2020-Winter 2021, Student Research Grant Recipient

Thesis title: Making the Switch: Effects of Approach and Avoidance Motivation on Creativity

Leonardo Ferrisi (Summer Research Fellow), Summer 2021

Project title: Affordable Open-Source Neurofeedback for ADHD

Research Assistants:

Yiqi Wang Winter 2023-Spring 2023

Stephen Barbelet Winter 2023-Spring 2023

Gabriela Balakier Fall 2022-Spring 2023

Gabriella Gatto Fall 2022-Spring 202

Trishikha Kiran Rao Spring 2022-Spring 2023

Genesis Santana Summer 2021-Fall 2021

Lori (Nuo) Chen Summer 2021-Fall 2022

Jenevieve Peterson Spring 2021-Fall2022

Brandon Mitchell Fall 2020-Spring 2021

Melany Carvalho Winter–Spring 2020

Lydia Hogan Winter-Spring 2020

Kaila Lasher Winter 2020-Spring 2021