University of Arizona · PsychologySemantics and Alzheimer’s Initiative
Matthew D Grilli · Tucson, Arizona
Research Focus
Dr. Matthew D. Grilli's lab focuses on understanding how semantic memory can help detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease. His research investigates new cognitive tasks related to semantic memory and their relationship with important biomarkers of Alzheimer's, such as amyloid and tau levels in the brain. By exploring these connections, the lab aims to develop better tools for diagnosing Alzheimer's and advancing knowledge about how the brain supports memory.
Alzheimer's diseasesemantic memorybiomarkerscognitive neuroscienceneuropsychology
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the sensitivity of semantic memory tasks to Alzheimer's biomarkers in older adults.
AIM 02Explore how experience-nearness in semantic memory relates to AD biomarkers.
AIM 03Assess the role of generative processing in detecting early Alzheimer's signs.
Skills the Lab Values
neuropsychological testingstructural MRIbiomarker analysiscognitive assessment designdata analysisparticipant recruitmentexperimental psychologystatistical methodscognitive profiling
Output against the department
Publications230top 27% of dept.78th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.5kbottom 13% of dept.259th of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.