Overview

We advance knowledge in basic affective science and clinical aging (e.g., dyadic interpersonal processes between persons with dementia and family caregivers) and apply it to address real-world issues (e.g. detecting and intervening changes in real-world social interactions using wearables and in-home sensors)

We use an interdisciplinary and multi-method approach (e.g., self-report, behavioral coding, dyadic psychophysiology with EEG, neuroimaging, wearables/remote sensors, driving simulation) and work with neurotypical older adults/couples as well as people living with neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., dementia, Parkinson’s disease) and their spousal caregivers in the laboratory and real-world settings. 

Our laboratory research takes place in two laboratory suites each houses identical equipment used for recording physiological and behavioral data from individuals and dyads. Our real-world research takes place in the community including residential homes, retirement centers, and intervention facilities. 

We visualize and share our data in ways that maximize transparency and communication. The spiral plot illustrates the relationship between time and participants’ in-home locations over 25 days (measured using Bluetooth-enabled wearables). Each day is represented by one circle. The colors represent participants in a particular room of the house.