Aging, Culture and Cognition Laboratory

Angela Gutchess is a professor of psychology at Brandeis University with appointments in neuroscience and the Volen Center for Complex Systems. Her research interests include studying the influences of age and culture on memory and social cognition using behavioral and cognitive neuroscience (fMRI; EEG) methods. The courses she teach at Brandeis include Learning & Memory, Social Neuroscience and Culture, and Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging. When not working, she enjoys traveling, going to Soul Cycle and chilling at home (ideally with her cat nearby).

• Current CV 

McKinzey Torrance is a postdoctoral fellow. She received a BS in Cognitive Brain Science (2019), a MS in psychology (2022), and a PhD in Cognitive Psychology (2025) from Tufts University. Her work focused on understanding memory retrieval processes through exploring memory distortions. Specifically, she investigated how to resist post-event misinformation, how knowledge is updated after encountering post-event information, and how simulating future events impacts memory for the past. Currently, she is investigating how cognition changes over time due to aging and shifts in cultural context (e.g., acculturation). Outside of research, McKinzey enjoys hiking, making her own clothes, and reading.

Nicolette Barber is a third-year PhD student at the ACC lab. She also received her master’s degree from Brandeis University in 2022, while conducting research in the ACC lab. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire with her BS in neuropsychology where she had worked on research projects involving Parkinson’s disease and microbiology. 

In her free time, she likes to read, go to the beach and spend time with her Great Dane.

Sagarika completed her B.S. in Psychology and Certificate in Spanish at Georgia State University, after which they worked at Emory University as a Research Specialist studying how emotion and memory influence learning and development. She is interested in how culture interacts with memory and cognition broadly, and is passionate about promoting equity, justice, and accessibility in science. They love reading, listening to music, visiting museums, and collecting trinkets.

James Qian is a second-year PhD student. He earned a B.A. in Psychology from Westmont College and an M.A. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Chicago, where he studied the relationship between video gaming and cognitive function. Before joining Brandeis, he worked on large-scale longitudinal studies of Alzheimer’s disease in underrepresented populations at the Memory and Aging Center at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). His research interests center on cognitive aging in a cultural and sociodemographic context, including the impact of culture and aging on memory and social cognition.

In his free time, James enjoys traveling, playing basketball and video games.

Angie Gori is a first-year M.A. student in the Aging, Culture, and Cognition Lab. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from the State University of New York at Oswego this past Spring (2025). She is interested in research that examines the influences of age and culture on cognitive processes. In her free time, she enjoys reading, sketching, and playing cozy video games with friends.

Yuanxin Liu is a first-year master's student in the Aging, Culture, and Cognition Lab. She graduated from the University of Delaware with double majors in neuroscience(BS) and psychology(BA) in the spring of 2025. Her research interests mainly focused on the cultural effects on memory and vision. She loves singing and walking in her free time.

Iva is the current lab manager for the ACC lab. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Brandeis University, where she completed a senior honors thesis on the effects of self and other-referencing on associative memory for social information across age and culture. Her research interests include social cognition, self-referential thinking, and memory across the lifespan. She plans to pursue a doctoral degree in social psychology. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking and visiting museums with her friends.

Mona Houjazy is a senior attending Brandeis University majoring in neuroscience, psychology, and biology. As an honors thesis student, her work investigates spatial manipulation frequency on short term memory. After graduation, Mona hopes to continue exploring neuropsychology research and further her education through either medical school or the pursuit of a doctoral degree. Outside of academics, Mona enjoys expressing her creativity through henna and makeup, being outdoors, and exploring the world through food.

Cédric is a sophomore at Brandeis University, intending to major in neuroscience. He is interested in how culture and language differences influence cognitive processes, specifically comparing monolingual and bilingual individuals. His other interests include the neuroscience of gender, evolutionary psychology, and the neuroscience of mental health. In his free time, Cédric enjoys playing guitar, combat sports, and traveling.