Affiliated with the Brain and Cognition Division

My research focuses on the neural mechanisms of attention and memory and how these mechanisms are affected by age. I am also interested in how age-related decline in behavioral performance may be mediated by physical exercise, cognitive training techniques, hormone interventions, and/or nutrition. To examine these questions, I have employed functional and structural neuroimaging techniques and behavioral and neuropsychological testing. My research is also investigating the molecular mechanisms of age-related learning and memory deficits as well as exercise and hormone interventions through the use of animal models.

Representative Publications:

• Erickson, KI, Colcombe, SJ, Wadhwa, R, Bherer, L, Peterson, M, Scalf, P, Kramer, AF. Dual-task related brain activity after minimizing effects of task-preparation. (In press - 2005).
• Colcombe, SJ, Kramer, AF, Erickson, KI, Scalf, P. The implications of cortical recruitment and brain morphology for individual differences in cognitive performance in aging humans. (In press - 2005).
• Erickson, KI, Ho, R, Colcombe, SJ, Kramer, AF. A structural equation modeling analysis of attentional control: an event-related fMRI study. Cognitive Brain Research 22, 349-357, 2005.
• Erickson, KI, Colcombe, SJ, Raz, N, Korol, DL, Scalf, P, Webb, A, Cohen, NJ, McAuley, E, Kramer, AF. Selective sparing of brain tissue in post-menopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy. Neurobiology of Aging. 26 (8): 1205-13, 2005.
• Nielson, KA, Yee, D, Erickson, KI. Memory enhancement by a semantically unrelated emotional arousal source induced after learning. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 84 (1): 49-56, 2005.