Sample Biographies
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Robert A. Bjork Wendy Castleman Robert Hoffman Mark McDaniel Gregory E. Monaco |
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Helga Noice Victoria Romero Ann Speed Gordon Willis Dan Wright |
Helga Noice
Professional Biography: Helga received her PhD from Rutgers University. Her husband and research partner, Tony Noice, received his Ph.D. from Wayne State University. They are now both on the faculty of Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, IL, a Chicago suburb.Personal Statement: For almost two decades, we have been investigating the cognitive processes of professional actors, using protocol analysis as well as empirical inquiry. At first the work was purely theoretical, determining the cognitive mechanisms that enabled professionals to memorize hours of verbal material and retrieve it in real time without ever thinking ahead to the next line. Because the actors’ strategy involves cognitive, physiological, and emotional aspects, we reasoned that the resulting memory benefits might extend to the general population. Over 10 years of applied experiments provided evidence that this was indeed the case. At first, the participants were undergraduate students, but we are currently working with older adults, funded by multiple grants from NIA.
The most engaging element of conducting applied research is that it provided an opportunity to work on a solution to one of today’s most important health problems: cognitive decline leading to dementia in older adults. The intervention starts with the researchers giving a “recruitment talk” at retirement homes, explaining the procedures and anticipated benefits. After residents have signed up and have been interviewed, they are randomly assigned to one of three groups: theatre arts; another art-form (e.g., singing or visual arts); or no-treatment controls. Over a dozen cognitive and psychological tests are given on a one-to-one basis. Often the participants want to linger to talk about their personal lives or ask questions. They frequently appear grateful that someone is taking an interest in their mental health. After the testing, the actual intervention starts, which consists of instructing residents in the strategies actors use. So far, every intervention (whether done with community-dwelling adults or with continuing care facilities adults) has produced significant improvements compared to both the alternate interventions and the no-treatment controls. Some of the groups have continued with the program by putting on their own plays and have invited the researchers to the performances. It is most gratifying to see both cognitive and affective function improve in these at-risk participants. It is particularly exciting that the mental abilities shown to decline with the onset of Alzheimer’s are the very ones that increase the most during our interventions.
Because of the significant increase in the numbers of older adults, there is a great need for applied research, and both private and public foundations are interested in funding approaches that seems highly promising.
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