STEPHANIE TRAVERS

GRADUATE STUDENT

 

  Implicit memory, properties of knowing, inhibitory processes     

 

I am originally from Southeastern Massachusetts, where I received my B.A. from UMass, Dartmouth in 1999.  This is my final (fifth) year in the Cognitive/Experimental program at Stony Brook. My research interests are on the processes that support long-term memory, with an emphasis on the nature of nature of memory for task-irrelevant information.  In particular, Dr. Rajaram and I work within the framework of the distinction between implicit and explicit forms of memory to examine the effects of subsequently attending (i.e., selecting) and ignoring (i.e., deselecting) items on perceptual priming.  Additionally, I am interested in the subjective experience of selectively attending to information, and examine the vividness and fluency of processing multiple items with the Remember/Know paradigm. In the future, I plan to continue to study how these processes influence the final shape of both implicit and explicit forms of memory. I intend to expand my current research program to examine the extent to which deselection processes are preserved in an aging population, as well in individuals with impaired memory or amnesia. 

 

In addition to research, I have been a teaching assistant for a number of classes offered by the Psychology Department, and I have taught the Survey in Cognition and Perception course. I’ve also been active in leading workshops for the University’s Women in Science and Engineering program.  If you’re considering applying to our graduate program, I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have (stravers@ic.sunysb.edu).

 

Publications

 

·             Rajaram, S., Srinivas, K. & Travers, S. (2001).  The effects of attention on perceptual implicit memory.  Memory & Cognition, 29, 920-030.

 

·             Freitas, A. L., Travers, S., Azazian A., & Berry, S. (2004). The evaluation connotation of processing fluency: Inherantly positive or moderated by motivational context? Manuscript submitted for publication.

 

·             Rajaram, S. & Travers, S. (2004).  Attention and the recollective experience: Deselection impairs Knowing.  Manuscript in preparation.

 

·             Travers, S. & Rajaram, S. (2004). When repetition fails to protect against deselection: Effects of Stroop encoding on long-term priming.  Manuscript in preparation.

 

·             Rajaram, S. & Travers, S. (2004). Deselection effects in long-term memory. Chapter to appear in the edited volume of the Tsukuiba International Conference in Memory, Tsukuba, Japan (to be held March, 2004). Chapter in preparation.

 

 

Ongoing Research Projects

 

·        Travers, S. & Rajaram, S. Masked repetition and deselection effects on implicit and explicit memory. Data Collection in progress.

 

·        Rajaram, S. & Travers, S., & Kinariwala, M. Effects of encoding deselection and directed forgetting on long-term memory. Data collection in progress.

 

Conference Presentations

 

·        Travers, S.  & Freitas, A. L. (2004, February).  Processing fluency and liking: A motivational explanation.  Paper presented at the 5th Annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Austin, TX.

 

·        Travers, S.  & Rajaram, S. (2003, November).  Effects of deselection on long-term memory.  Paper presented at the 44th Annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Vancouver, CA.

 

·        Travers, S. & Rajaram, S.   (2001, November).  Attentional effects of Stroop encoding on perceptual priming.  Poster presented at the 42nd Annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Orlando, FL.

 

 

 

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