Dr. Yoshida is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology. Her central research focuses on language learning mechanisms creating highly specialized learning processes and the cognitive consequences of the language learning. The core idea behind her research is that these specialized learning processes are derived from domain general mechanisms and the process involving the fine-tuning and contextual cuing of attention to aspects of the learning environment. Dr. Yoshida studies these processes by studying young children learning different language(s). Her work provides insight into questions of how early learning interacts with regularities in the world, and how this relation feeds into self-sustaining learning.

Curriculum Vitae of Dr. Hanako Yoshida

Area: Cognitive development (word/language learning, bilingual cognition, cross-linguistic comparison with children's category learning)

yoshida@uh.edu

I am interested in the cognitive processes of executive function, bilingualism, attentional learning, mutual exclusivity and their implications concerning word learning and academic achievement. Furthermore, I am currently collecting international and regional data for a longitudinal study concerning the effects of cross-cultural languages and its implications on cognitive control, as well as the trajectory changes in vocabulary development and attention.

Curriculum Vitae of Crystal D. Tran

I am interested in how the ordering of perceptual information influences learning and decision making across multiple timescales. I'm currently working on research projects that investigate cognitive factors that lead to the rapid shifting of attention between perceptual features, especially when considering an individual's prior knowledge. Computational simulations and cognitive modeling help me to guide my research in understanding the mechanisms underlying child development.

Curriculum Vitae of Joseph M. Burling

My primary research interests are in the development of language and learning. More specifically, I am interested in the cognitive mechanisms associated with lexical processing in monolingual and bilingual children.

Curriculum Vitae of Beth Woods

I am primarily interested in language development and the influences that learning certain languages may have on cognitive development. More specifically, I am looking to discover how the structure, regularities, and differences that exist in various languages may influence the way a language-learner perceives his or her world, thinks about categories, objects and actions, and how the language he or she is learning or speaks changes other aspects of cognitive function and development.

Curriculum Vitae of Craig Van Pay

I joined the Cognitive Development Lab in order to gain research experience and to better understand the cognitive mechanisms that allow people to acquire and produce language. I am interested in the biological basis of many aspects of cognition including executive function, memory storage and retrieval, language acquisition, and how those processes interact to produce our perceptions of the world. I hope to learn more about the differences between monolinguals and bilinguals, especially in my areas of interest, so that I can be more knowledgeable and ultimately become a skilled clinician.

I am interested in exploring the underlying mechanisms related to cognition, more specifically to attention and memory. I am also interested in how a child progresses from a physiological process to abstract thinking. As a research assistant at the Cognitive Development Lab, I hope to gain experience that will further my future aspirations in having a career in psychopathology and cognitive psychology.

I joined the Cognitive Development Lab because I knew it would offer me an invaluable opportunity to be exposed to research in the psychological sciences. I have a keen interest in the neurological basis of development and learning and hope to be able to pursue these interests in a clinical setting. I am eager to grow as a scientist, learn new things, and become better prepared for graduate studies.

I joined the Cognitive Development Lab in order to gain hands on experience that will prepare me for graduate school. I aspire to become a Clinical Psychologist and my main interests lie in the area of Human Sexuality; specifically the development of gender identity. As a research assistant at the Cognitive Development Lab, I hope to expand my horizons in the field of psychology and gain experience in working with people.

I joined the Cognitive Developmental Lab to gain hands on experience in the research environment and explore the opportunities in the field of psychology. I am interested in cognitive development of the early stage and through working in the lab; I hope to gain a more in depth understanding of how children develop and how language acquisition can affect their cognitive abilities.

I am happy to join the Cognitive Development Lab because it provides much needed research experience, which will hopefully enhance my chances of attending grad school. I am fascinated by brain function and development and feel kids offer a great opportunity in the research of these topics. I look forward to working in studies involving language acquisition and the comparisons of monolingual and bilingual development.

I joined the Cognitive Development Lab to gain hands on research experience to prepare me for graduate school. As an aspiring occupational therapist, I am very interested in child cognitive development, and I think that my experience in the lab will provide me with insight into how a child's mind works and how language acquisition can help them develop. Learning this vital information will help me in my future career.

I joined the cognitive development lab to gain experience in the research aspects of psychology. I have previously worked with children in a variety of settings and I am fascinated in how the brain can learn something as complicated as language. I am interested in becoming a physician assistant and am considering various fields in pediatrics. This lab can teach me about development at various ages of children. The lab can give me hands on experience working with children and teach me about processes of language acquisition.

I had an interest in joining the Cognitive Development Lab because I believe it is an excellent opportunity to explore and gain hands on experience in the field of psychology. It will be exciting to be a part of the research that takes place in understanding children’s language and how it relates to their cognition. This valuable experience as a research assistant will further my knowledge of psychology and better prepare me for the graduate years ahead.

I joined the lab because I am very fascinated with brain function and development. The idea of working with children also influenced me to join, because of the interesting changes occurring in early childhood. I knew that here I could learn how to conduct proper research and learn a lot about development from an active lab. I hope that the knowledge I gain from this lab will be something I can apply in my life and career.

I wanted to join the Cognitive Development Lab to learn more about cognitive processing along the lines of speech and language development in children and adults. My ultimate goal is to become a Speech Language Pathologist and I am excited to gain research experience in these topics that will assist me with my future goals.

I joined the Cognitive Developmental lab to gain valuable experience in the research environment, as well as further my knowledge in the field of psychology. I am particularly interested in cognitive-behavioral psychology and find early development to be especially interesting. Through the lab, I hope to expand my understanding of how children develop mentally and perceive the environment around them.

In Fall 2012, Lauren entered a master’s program in School Psychology at the University of Minnesota. While at the Cognitive Development Lab, Lauren managed the lab while assisting with several projects.

In Fall 2011, Maria entered a doctoral program in Developmental Psychology with an emphasis in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor. While at the Cognitive Development Lab, Maria worked on projects concerning the developmental trend of executive function among bilinguals and monolinguals children from various cultural backgrounds.

In Fall 2011, Kevin entered a doctoral program in Developmental Psychology at the Ohio State University. While at the Cognitive Development Lab, Kevin was involved in projects concerning the effects of previous perceptual and categorical learning on current information processing and attention allocation.

In Fall 2011, Jaymie entered a master’s program in School Psychology at the University of Houston—Clear Lake. While at the Cognitive Development Lab, Jaymie worked on projects concerning saliency cues and attentional word learning patterns among children from different language learning environments, including children with Autism.

In Fall 2010, Lauren entered a Master of Science program in Social Work (clinical concentration) at the University of Texas at Austin. While at the Cognitive Development Lab, Lauren worked on projects exploring the role of object similarity in adjective learning.

In Fall 2008, Viridiana entered a doctoral program in Developmental Psychology at Indiana University. While at the Cognitive Development Lab, Viridiana worked on projects concerning the effect of redundancy in early learning.

In Fall 2008, Maria entered a M.A./LPC program in Psychology and Counseling at the University of Mary Hardin—Baylor. While at the Cognitive Development Lab, Maria worked on projects concerning how children learning multiple languages have different word learning processes.

In Fall 2010, Nadeen entered a master’s program in Communication Disorders at the University of Texas at Dallas. While at the Cognitive Development Lab, Nadeen worked on projects concerning the role of attentional switching in novel word mapping among monolingual and bilingual children.

Chancellor's Professor Of Psychology, 
Department Of Psychology And Brain Sciences Chair

http://www.indiana.edu/~cogdev/people.html

Associate Professor of Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University 

http://www.indiana.edu/~dll/people.html

Dr. Kushalnagar completed her Ph.D. in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Houston. She was awarded a two-year NIH Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research and NIH Pediatric Research Loan Repayment Award to support her postdoctoral research training with the Seattle Quality of Life group at the University of Washington. She is the project co-investigator for Texas site, where she conducts assessment of quality of life study with deaf youths from Spanish speaking families. Dr. Kushalnagar also collaborates on Dr. Yoshida's head camera research project with young deaf children.

Area: Neurocognitive and quality of life outcomes among deaf and hard of hearing children; early cognitive development (attention and executive function)