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Principal Investigator

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Asaf Gilboa, Ph.D.

I completed my undergraduate studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, majoring in Psychology and the Amirim inter-disciplinary program.  I received my M.A. degree in Clinical Neuropsychology from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem where I studied the neurocognitive effects of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). I received my Ph.D. in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Toronto, where I studied the cognitive neuroscience of remote memory. I then pursued postdoctoral studies at the Rotman Research Institute in Toronto focusing on prefrontal contributions to memory monitoring and control. I was a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at Haifa University in Israel where I also served as co-director of the Clinical Neuropsychology program. I am currently a Senior Scientist at the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest as well as an Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Toronto and Affiliate Scientist at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. Together with my lab members I investigate neurological and neuropsychiatric aspects of memory disorders. Our research focuses on memory disorders such as amnesia, dementia and confabulation, employing various methodologies (lesion analysis, fMRI, Skin conductance, ERP and MEG) to investigate of the mechanisms underlying these disorders. I have co-authored over 50 articles and book chapters, and have received several awards including the Dusty and Ettie Miller Fellowship for Outstanding Young Scholars and the Donald T. Stuss Award for Research Excellence.     


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Post-Doc

Erik Wing, Ph.D. 

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I moved to Toronto to do postdoctoral research with Asaf Gilboa and Jennifer Ryan after completing my PhD in cognitive neuroscience at Duke University, where I worked with Roberto Cabeza. My doctoral research explored the relationship between initial memory formation and subsequent retrieval, including how initial sensory representations are recapitulated in the brain during recollection. One recurring theme in this work, and in the field more broadly, is that memories are not faithful reproductions of past experience but are instead shaped by numerous factors that can cause certain content to be differentially prioritized, distorted, or schematized.  From the very outset, information that makes its way into memory is influenced by our expectations, biases, and correspondence to prior knowledge. My current research focuses on how having organized knowledge about a particular domain (anything from art history to cars) influences learning and memory for related material. This process is familiar to anyone who initially struggles to learn unfamiliar information but finds that subsequent learning is easier once new material can be integrated into an emerging knowledge framework. With respect to brain function, I am interested in exploring how the acquisition of visosemantic expertise leads to schematic reshaping of related neural representations, with corresponding consequences for different forms of memory. 

Graduate Students

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Victoria (Tong) Liu, B.A.

​​I received my bachelor degree in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science from the University of Toronto. Throughout my undergraduate years, I received a wide range of training from computational neuroscience to social cognitive neuroscience. My interdiscinplary experience collectively contributed to my current research interest as a graduate student of the lab, which is to computationally model the semantic and episodic memory networks. I am currently working on a project to map out the temporal evolution of cortical semantic networks during incidental learning. The photo was taken in December 2020, in front of my bookcase with all the books I read in 2020!


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Hannah Marlatte, M.A.
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I am interested in understanding how our past experiences shape how we perceive and remember the present. During my MA, I developed a model of learning based on principles of Bayesian statistics. This noted different learning styles that vary in next-day memory performance based on one’s use of relevant prior knowledge.

For my PhD, I am trying to understand how trauma impacts what people encode and remember in scene-based memories. It’s been noted that folks with PTSD have fragmented memories, where individual items in a scene can be recalled but not necessarily their relationships with each other. I want to examine how the oculomotor system could help support (re)-consolidation processes of these item relationships by influencing oscillatory dynamics. Outside of research, I like to crochet, cook, go for walks, and (attempt to) cuddle my cat.


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Prateek Dhamija, M.Sc.
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My interest in neuroscience comes from a background in biology and behavioral neuroscience. I first became involved in neuroscience in my third year at Queen's university where I conducted electrophysiological field recordings in the hippocampus. From there, I became interested in all areas of neuroscience research, but in particular: how behaviours are adaptive and are shaped by their context. 
For my undergraduate and masters theses' at Queen's University, this theme resonated throughout my work as I investigated the effects of stress during adolescence on the emergence of maladaptive adult emotive behaviours related to anxiety, depression, and aggression with Dr. Janet Menard. Throughout my research, I developed a deeper interest in framing behaviour in terms of how adaptive it is for a given context. Questions of interest include: What kind of environment leads to certain behaviours becoming maladaptive compared to others? What factors accelerate or prevent the development of maladaptive behaviours? Can maladaptive behaviours become adaptive ones in different contexts? 
For my PhD, I have been interested in applying these ideas to develop translational models of research for how we learn associations between our behaviour and stimuli in our environment. In particular, I hope to examine these questions with regards to higher order Pavlovian conditioning. Outside of academia, I enjoy team sports as well as traveling, hiking and  photography.


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Ariana Giuliano, M.A. 

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I have always been curious about the complex underpinnings of memory and cognition. Having completed my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at McGill University, I became thoroughly interested in the research of Brenda Milner and her work with patient H.M., which fuelled my interest in the neuropsychological facets of memory. Memories represent the fundamentals for how we conceive of ourselves, others, and everything in our environment. I believe that researching how memory disorders impact functioning is key in understanding how memory is represented on multiple levels in the brain such as cellular, circuitry, and systems levels. My previous undergraduate research involved investigating the behavioural implications of pain in both mice and humans in addition to some clinical research on spinal cord injury. For my Masters thesis I am interested in the neural oscillations underlying schema instantiation and perception and how damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex may impair both neural schema representations and schema instantiation and interpretation. Outside of the lab I am an avid rock-climber, yogi, dancer, hiker, and dog mom.

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Adina Levi, B.Sc., M.A.

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I began my undergraduate degree studying biology at York University. Early on in my studies, I was introduced to the fascinating interface between biology and psychology, and the notion that human behaviour can be explained by neural underpinnings. This motivated me to study cognitive neuroscience, and I enrolled in a Specialized Honours Bachelors of Science in Psychology degree. 
I started volunteering at the Gilboa Lab in 2016 and contributed to the lab by developing stimuli for a cognitive neurointervention study aiming to offset chronic hippocampal degeneration in traumatic brain injury patients. I completed my undergraduate thesis under the supervision of Dr. Gilboa and Dr. Gary Turner at York University and examined the relationship between hippocampal-dependent abilities: spatial navigation and pattern completion and separation. 
I am currently an MA student at York University's Clinical Neuropsychology program. My MA thesis aims to study the similarities and differences in rest and reactivation memory tasks in medial temporal lobe and ventromedial prefrontal cortex patients. Outside of the lab, I love to travel, hike and paint.


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Benjamin Alsbyry-Nealy, B.Sc., M.A

Virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence are revolutionizing the way we interact with the world around us and provide exciting new ways to study human behaviour. My research leverages these emerging technologies to investigate how we learn and form memories while navigating real world environments.
Before joining the Gilboa lab, I received my BSc in Psychology, Economics and Mathematics  from the University of Toronto. Subsequently I earned my M.A. in Psychology at eh University of Toronto, under the direction of Katherine Duncan, where I developed virtual environment tasks analogous to tasks performed by mice, enabling robust comparative analyses. These efforts also resulted in an open-source toolbox - OpenMaze - that enables researchers to quickly create 3D environment tasks. If I'm not in the lab, you can find me training for my next triathlon, or hiking the Ontario wilderness.

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Undergraduate Students and Volunteer RA's

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​​Faith Balshin
I have an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology from York University, with focus on molecular genetics and psychology. During my undergraduate I completed a research practicum in a human molecular genetics laboratory at York, working with polytene chromosomal mapping in Drosophila melanogaster models. I also worked at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, conducting research focused on the early onset schizophrenic population and how cannabis use affected memory, cognition, and hormone levels. I continued research at St. Michael’s hospital in a neurosurgery lab, focusing on injury prevention. I plan on pursuing psychology in the graduate level, and am now enjoying working in Dr. Gilboa’s laboratory, learning so many new things about cognitive neuroscience. 
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Eva Di Nallo
I am a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Physiology. Between the ages of 12 and 17, I sustained eight concussions, which resulted in lasting physical and cognitive consequences. As a result of my injuries, I have become interested in learning about human cognition, specifically, how brain injuries affect memory. Working at the Gilboa Lab allows me to participate in research that aligns with my passion for understanding the cognitive effects of brain injuries and aging. Outside of the classroom and the lab, you can find me on a long walk, watching documentaries, or reading a good book. 

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Xuan (Sophia) Zhang
I am a fourth-year student at UofT, who is specialized in psychology. My undergraduate research has mainly focused on sematic knowledge, memory, and learning. I am always fascinated by the complex brain systems supporting different cognitive processes. Especially, I’m interested in exploring how other brain regions (e.g., PFC, angular gyrus) interact with the hippocampus to give rise to knowledge integration and consolidation. In line with this initiative, I joined the Gilboa lab as a research student to study how people integrate knowledge by applying non-invasive brain stimulation on their angular gyrus. When I am not doing research, I like to read books and hunt for good movies. You may also find me on my way to hiking.

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Victoria Hardin
I have an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from York University, Glendon Campus, with focus on cognitive neuropsychology. During my undergraduate degree, my research focused on how stereotypes and biases affect memory. After graduating, I returned to York to write an undergraduate thesis which led me to Dr. Gilboa’s lab. Currently I am working with Dr. Gilboa and Ariana to study the effect different types of prior knowledge have on memory. Outside of the lab, I work as a clinical assistant at St. Michael’s Hospital. In my spare time, I enjoy yoga, hiking, travelling, competitive skeet shooting, and hanging out with my cat.

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Rebecca Sy
I am a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Science. Currently, I am majoring in Neuroscience and double-minoring in Physiology and Psychology. Having experience with and overcoming various mental health challenges, I’ve developed a strong passion and take great fulfilment from actively working to understand and improve others’ cognitive, behavioural, and emotional well-being. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to create a hypothetical research manuscript and investigate a topic of my choice in a research-focused seminar course, TRN225 (The Art of Health Science Discovery). In doing so, I developed a keen interest in memory and learning. As such, I investigated and tested potential interventions for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) to alleviate learning and memory dysfunction. Improving overall mental health requires an interdisciplinary approach. For this reason, I aim to stay open-minded and curious, as well as take nuanced approaches when conducting research. In my spare time, I love running, playing basketball, singing, cooking, and doing yoga.

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Silina Ziad Boshmaf
I am a third-year student at York University, pursing a Specialized Honours degree in Psychology.
I aspire to pursue graduate studies within the clinical neuropsychology field. My research experience in York’s CAN lab provided me research skills necessary to apply dynamic functional connectivity (DFC) analysis with Python on preprocessed functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) data. I am currently involved with York’s C3 lab, looking at cognition and complex conditions in marginalized individuals. I am also currently involved with York’s Desrocher lab, helping graduate students with their research of resilience in paediatric stroke and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorder (FASD) in collaboration with SickKids Research Institute. I hope to contribute to studies of brain-behaviour with the lens of cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging techniques. 
I am excited to be doing an IRP on autobiographical memory under the supervision of Dr. Gilboa and Dr. Moscovitch.


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Nazanin Babaei
I am a master’s candidate at York University, majoring in Kinesiology and Health Sciences. My current master’s thesis is focused on traumatic memories and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I am truly fascinated with the area of trauma and how it impacts memory networks. I started volunteering at the Gilboa Lab in August 2022, contributing to research that aligns with my passion for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Also, I am currently a research assistant at Baycrest in the MemoryLink program providing technology-based interventions for individuals with memory impairment. I plan to pursue a clinical psychology program in the near future, concentrating on PTSD and memory. Outside of academics, you can find me playing drums, kickboxing, and painting.

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Taneisha Heikurinen
I'm Taneisha! Currently, I'm undertaking a Specialized Honours degree in Psychology with a concentration in counselling and mental health. I'm currently working with the every so lovely Ariana and Dr. Gilboa on the Mooney Figures project. In brief summary, our project deals with the processing of declarative and non-declarative memory. A couple fun facts about me are when I'm not preoccupied with my studies, you'll find me with my nose buried in a romance novel. Particularly, J.R.Ward books. It's also very likely that I'm primarily composed of tea as I'm a die-hard fan of the bergamot notes in Earl Grey. My obsession with the particular black tea started in Barcelona, the place I called home for 9 years. Lastly, and likely most importantly, I'm a proud pug owner and my pet's name is Monkey!

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Qiying (Kelly) Liu
I am a fourth-year student studying psychology specialist and anthropology major. I took cognitive and developmental psychology courses last year with a genuine interest in learning how people’s cognition change as they age. In Gilboa’s lab, I will work with Ariana on her CHiPS and schema/category memory studies. In my spare time, I enjoy playing golf and reading books!


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Isha Dua
I am a third year undergraduate pursuing specialized honours in Psychology at York University. Back in high school, I often listened to the stories of my friends sharing their personal experiences with mental health conditions like anxiety and depression which had major connections with how they were treated back home and the way their parents reacted to their successes and failures. Intrigued by these experiences, I picked up several books and started reading about Childhood Trauma, Depression and Narcissist Personality Disorder. I was deeply engrossed in circling back the roots of depression to early interactions as well as the impact of parenting patterns on a child's mental health.
I previously worked as a Research Assistant at the Glendon campus of York University examining the benefits of bilingualism. I also worked at the Cultural Collective Lab at York University where we examined cultural differences in social attention. At present, I am working with Dr. Gilboa and Hannah Marlatte to examine and study more about the connections between PTSD and scene construction, focusing on the oculomotor system. Apart from academics and research, I like to sing, play guitar, go on walks and read books.


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Syda Jabeen
I am a fourth-year undergraduate student at York University pursuing a Specialized Honours degree in Psychology. My undergraduate research broadly focuses on memory and it’s various mechanisms. Some of the more specific aspects of memory that strongly interest me are scene construction, schemas, imagining the future, boundary extension, and spatial navigation. To pursue these interest I have been involved in projects at the Rosenbaum Memory Lab and the Addis Memory Lab where I have been involved in route description scoring, collecting boundary extension stimuli and scoring cued EDT DM transcripts. To further solidify my interests and acquire new ones, I joined the Gilboa Lab as a volunteer research assistant. Currently I am working with Dr. Shayna Rosenbaum and Maria Orlando on an IRP where I am writing a literature review on boundary extension. I am also working with Dr. Asaf Gilboa and Dr. Erik Wing on a bird expertise project. Aside from academics, I enjoy writing, painting and reading fantasy and modern history novels.

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Michael Lochner
I am currently in my third year of study at York University, currently pursuing a Specialized Honours B.Sc in Psychology. My research interests include cognitive neuroscience, memory and self-control. I am always intrigued to learn more about the underlying neuroscientific mechanisms of brain processing as well as how changes in brain structure over the course of time can alter a person’s overall behaviour. I am currently working with Dr. Gilboa and Xuan to study how non-invasive brain stimulation may influence knowledge integration. During my free time, I enjoy going on bike rides, playing hockey, journaling and watching movies.

Annie Mandatori


Alumni

Postdoctoral fellows:
Eve Attali                           Neuropsychologist, CEMEREM la Timone Hospital, Marseille
Vessela Stamenova​         Research Lead, implementation and evaluation of virtual healthcare, Women's College Hospital, Toronto
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PhD alumni:
Zorry Belchev                 Policy Analyst, Community Care Support Services, Ministry of Health, Government of British Columbia
Melissa Hebscher          Postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University 
Maayan Merhav            Postdoctoral fellow at German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg
Tali Atir                            Lecturer at Emek Yezreel College and clinical psychologist at Tamuz Institute, Haifa
Shani Waidergoren       Clinical Neuropsychologist, private practice​
MA alumni:
Grace Gabriel
​Vanessa Ghosh

Shelly Ben Israel
Moran Barkan
Tehila Guigui
Adi Zakay
Sarah Adler-Luzon
Neta Kvetniy-Ferdman


​Neta Levy
Lina Abo-Ahmad
Rinat Bar-Eliezer
Osnat Mussel
​Hila Sholomon
Roman Rozengrut
Judith Segalovicz
​Raneen Nicola
Undergraduate thesis alumni:
Pratyush Menon
Shuran (Rayna) Tang
Rachel Hickson
Madison Fraser
Adam Pugsley
Lai Wong
​Shaylyn Joseph
Anastasia Kalantarova

Saambavy Shan

​Richard Wang
Osnat Peleg
Hila Levinzon
Itamar Behrman
Osnat Harari
Maayan Blitz  






Undergraduate students, RA's and volunteer alumni:
​Jen Siegel
Leanne Mendoza
Christina Lubinsky
Shaheem Alam

Niels Erik Nandal
Alita Fernandez​
Kyle Nealy
Mubina Butt
Brahm Sanger
Shaily Oisie
Samreen Aziz
Mamta Kapoor
Karen Joseph (KL-CARE)

Simran Rehal

Vaishaalie Nimalan
Shreeyaa Ramana





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​Sharon Chernyak
​Laxan Premachandran

George He
Christine Ibrahim
Julia Kearly

Xinyi (Lisa) Chen
Talha Anwar Chaudhry
Noa El-Hassid
​Dana Silberberg
Ory Bar-Haim
Alina Nikiforov​
Inbal Goldfrecht

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