Alex Barnett (PI)

Dr. Barnett completed his B.Sc., M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Toronto. Before starting at the Montreal Neurological Institute, Dr. Barnett was a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California, at Davis. Dr. Barnett’s research incorporates elements of systems neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and clinical neuropsychology in creative ways to expand our understanding of episodic memory.

Outside of the lab, Alex is an avid Toronto Raptors fan, enjoys running and being bad at video games.

Joshua Koh (Graduate Student)

Hi there! I recently graduated from the University of Toronto, where I pursued programs in Psychology and Neuroscience. My research interests lie in investigating the mechanisms and dynamics underlying human memory, and how they intertwine with other aspects of our cognition and behaviour. More specifically, using a combination of behavioural and neuroimaging techniques, I am keen to understand how people integrate memories for naturalistic events and extract the necessary information to navigate new experiences. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, going on walks, and playing sports 😊 Absolutely thrilled to be able to start this new journey with the Barnett lab and continue developing my love for the field!

Jayoon Choi (Graduate Student)

Hello, everyone! I earned my M.A. in Psychology from Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea. I’m fascinated by human memory—how we organize, store, and retrieve our experiences. I’m especially interested in naturalistic paradigms that use movies as stimuli to study memory in more real-world settings. I’m currently studying how these processes are represented in the hippocampus and DMN, and how these processes are altered in patients with epilepsy versus healthy individuals. Outside the lab, I love my cat I brought from Korea, cooking, and taking long walks by the river or through the park.

 

Sofia Varon

Hi! My name is Sofia and I am a neuroscience MSc student in the Barnett Lab. Broadly, I am curious about how cognitive processes shape our experiences of the world around us. More specifically, I’m interested in how memories are encoded in the brain, and in how different cognitive domains interact with our ability to remember. I am also interested in taking a naturalistic approach to studying the brain, both behaviourally and with fMRI.  Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading, crocheting, trying out new cafes, and going to concerts.

 

Cassandre Sévigny

Hi! My name is Cassandre, and I’m a third-year undergraduate student in cognitive neuroscience at the Université de Montréal. My research interests include memory, neuroimaging, and computational neuroscience. I am currently working on my honors thesis on resting-state functional connectivity in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors, running, and playing ultimate frisbee.

 

June-Kyo Kim (Research Assistant)

Hi! My name is June and I’m a 3rd year Undergraduate student at the University of Toronto in the Cell and Systems Biology Specialist program. I’m interested in how perception influences memory and how this encoding is reflected in our brain activity. I’m passionate about using computational approaches and machine learning to investigate memory processes and enhance our understanding of human behaviour and brain connectivity. In my free time I like to catch up on sleep and eat good food.

 

Past Lab Members

Joseph Merante (Graduate Student, Brock University)

Yion Chow (Research Assistant, University of Hong Kong)

Aafiya Somani (Project Lead, University of Toronto)

Shivanshi Dhuria

Xianze (Marcus) Meng (Graduate Student, University of Toronto)

Zach Buck

Catherine Wu