Cal Poly Psychology Professor Awarded Grant to Study Memory file:///X:/Copyright/Submissions/_PressReleases%20&%20Cal%20Pol... Skip to Content Cal Poly News Search Cal Poly News Go California Polytechnic State University Jan. 23, 2003 Contact: Jo Ann Lloyd (805) 756-151 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cal Poly Psychology Professor Seeking Participants for Studies in Age-Related Memory Changes SAN LUIS OBISPO - Cal Poly Psychology Professor Gary Laver was awarded a $100,000 grant to conduct studies on age-related changes in memory, and he is seeking volunteers between the ages of 40 and 80 to help with his research. A small stipend will be paid to participants. The Academic Research Enhancement Award, from the National Institute on Aging, will be used to conduct four experiments in the area of adult age-related changes in memory processes that operate without a person's conscious awareness, Laver said. "These so-called automatic processes allow us to understand -- in an apparently instantaneous way -- what we hear and read and to anticipate what will likely come next in spoken and written material," Laver explained. "Other automatic memory processes are involved in the establishment of new memories or in the creation of new associations among things we already know. "It's now believed that some of these functions stand up fairly well as adults age from their 20s through their 70s and beyond; other functions do not fare so well," he said. "My interest is in determining whether some of these memory processes might actually improve with age and in investigating the manner in which other automatic memory processes decline." Anyone 40 to 80 years old who is interested in being a part of the federally funded research project on memory and vocabulary skills should contact Laver in the Psychology and Child Development Department at Cal Poly. Participants earn $15 for two 1 1/2-hour sessions. Call Laver at 756-5411 to arrange an appointment. 1 of 2 10/2/2009 2:48 PM Cal Poly Psychology Professor Awarded Grant to Study Memory file:///X:/Copyright/Submissions/_PressReleases%20&%20Cal%20Pol... - 30 CP Home • CP Find It Get Adobe Reader • Microsoft Viewers Events • Recent Releases • Cal Poly Magazine • Cal Poly Update E-newsletter • Contact Public Affairs • Alumni • Giving • Athletics Cal Poly Public Affairs California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 805.756.7266 polynews@calpoly.edu 2 of 2 10/2/2009 2:48 PM