Associate Professor
Ph. D. Duke University
Area: Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience

Contact Information

Email: clustig@umich.edu
Psychology Office: 4016 East Hall
Psychology Phone: 734-647-6925

Alternate Office: Lab Space: B367, B367A, B367B, B367C, East Hall

Research and Teaching Interests

My research uses both behavioral testing and fMRI to understand how older adults--and their brains--respond to demands for controlled attention. Of particular interest are the different patterns of brain activation often shown by older adults compared to young adults, and whether they reflect attempts to compensate for age-related changes in brain structure and attentional control. Most of my research focuses on how age differences in attention contribute to age differences in memory, with a secondary interest in their influence on older adults' perceptions of time.

Recent Publications
Reuter-Lorenz, P.A. and Lustig, C. (2005). Brain aging: reorganizing discoveries about the aging mind. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 15:1-7.

Lustig, C. and Buckner R. L. (2004). Preserved Neural Correlates of Priming in Old Age and Dementia. Neuron, 40: 865-875.

Lusting C., Konkel, A., and Jacoby, L. L. (2004). Which Route to Recovery? Psychological Science, Vol. 15, 11:729-735.

Lustig, C., Snyder, A.Z., Bhakta, M., O'Brien, K. C., McAvoy, M., M.E. Morris, J.C., and Buckner, R.L. (2003). Funcational deactivations: Change with age and dementia of the Alzheimer type. PNAS, Vol. 100, 24:14504-14509.

Recent Media Attention
2004 MSNBC: 'Alzheimer's patients retain unexpected skills'

2004 Senior Journal: 'Scientists Say They Know Why Older Adults Have Trouble Learning New Tricks'

2004 American Psychological Society:'Good Intentions Versus Bad Habits: Why the Old Ways Win Out'

2003 BBC News: 'Alzheimer's linked to daydreams'