Cheryl Grady

Research Synopsis

My research uses brain imaging techniques to study how brain structure and function are modified by age and how age differences in the brain translate into age differences in behaviour. We are particularly interested in how the connections between various brain areas change with age. These connections define brain “networks,” and we are studying the network activity that accompanies cognitive processes, such as memory and cognitive control (i.e., being able to manage and organize a set of tasks that you need to carry out). Our aim is to identify the brain mechanisms that underlie successful aging and whether the function of some brain networks can serve as compensation that supports cognition in older adults. Knowledge of which brain networks to target for interventions will help us design and implement such interventions to improve quality of life in older adults.