M. Visser (Malouke) MSc

In the near future, we will be facing an exponential increase in the number of older adults needing care because of memory decline. We therefore need interventions to compensate for these cognitive problems, in order to enhance functional independence. Memory-strategy training may be a promising venue, yet we are far from understanding how aging affects the different cognitive processes underlying effective strategy use.

To bridge this knowledge gap, my Ph.D. research within the Cognitive Aging group is dedicated to:

(1) Identifying aging effects on memory strategy production (initiation) and mediation (effectiveness) and their neurocognitive underpinnings.
(2) Testing how strategy utilization changes across the adult lifespan.
(3) Isolating the roles of strategy production, mediation and utilization in ageing-related declines in memory, and testing how interindividual differences in cognitive resources influence these processes.
(4) Further validating these findings within a naturalistic setting.

I have obtained a Master of Science degree in Neuropsychology and a research-focused Master of Science degree in Neuroscience and Cognition from Utrecht University. Throughout my master's programs, my research endeavours spanned a diverse range of fields within neuropsychology and neuroscience, reflecting my deep-seated curiosity and commitment to exploring multifaceted aspects of these disciplines.

In July 2023, I had the opportunity to visit the Old Age Psychiatry research group at the University of Cambridge for the purpose of writing a systematic review focused on the utilisation of positron emission tomography for in vivo imaging of synaptic density in neurodegenerative disorders.

For a more comprehensive overview of my (research) experiences, please refer to my LinkedIn profile.

• Development and Lifelong Plasticity