Professor Dr. Alison Preston

Biography

Alison Preston is the Raghunath P. Mahendroo Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. She holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and specializes in cognitive neuroscience, particularly focusing on memory and cognitive development during childhood and adolescence. Her research also encompasses computational neuroscience and the use of functional neuroimaging techniques. The chief aim of her work at the Preston Lab is to understand and manipulate the neural mechanisms that support learning and memory within the human brain. Her research primarily investigates the interactions between the hippocampus and frontoparietal cortices, which are crucial for the formation of new knowledge. Additionally, she examines the developmental aspects of these structures that contribute to improvements in memory, problem solving, creativity, reasoning, and planning abilities from childhood to adulthood. The lab employs advanced techniques in human neuroscience, including high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and intracranial recordings from human patients, alongside computational modeling, to delve deeper into specific cognitive processes identified in the brain.

Research Interests