Dr. Irit Shapira-Lichter

Our primary academic interest lies in the neural basis of high cognitive abilities such as episodic memory, cognitive interference and creativity. We utilize a multi-modal approach, including functional MRI, EEG, magnetic brain stimulations and advanced psychological-behavioral analysis in typical populations as well as in people who suffer from deficits due to old age, sickness, or medical treatment. We study questions related to memory strength, like the neural underpinnings of the primacy effect and the impact of retrieval cues or length of interval between encoding and retrieval on retrieval strength and content, as well as the possibility to enhance and hinder memory strength via neuromodulation. To portray the neural underpinnings of creativity, artists are requested to create art while being scanned. In a follow-up study, we are characterizing creativity in a subgroup of patients with Parkinson’s Disease who show a dramatic increase in creativity.