The University of Texas at Dallas · PsychologyThe Memory Nexus
Michael D Rugg · Richardson, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Michael D Rugg's lab at the University of Texas Dallas focuses on understanding how memory declines with aging, particularly episodic memory, which is the ability to recall specific events. The lab conducts research using advanced brain imaging techniques to explore the changes in brain activity related to memory as people age. Their goal is to identify neural factors that contribute to memory decline to pave the way for new interventions to improve memory in older adults and those at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
agingepisodic memoryneural selectivityAlzheimer's diseasecognitive declinefMRIlongitudinal studymemory performanceneurodegeneration
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the relationship between neural selectivity and memory performance across different age groups.
AIM 02Examine the effects of age on retrieval-related neural activity in episodic memory.
AIM 03Assess how structural changes in the brain correlate with memory decline in older adults.
AIM 04Determine the generalizability of findings to auditory memory processes across the lifespan.
Skills the Lab Values
functional MRI (fMRI)structural MRIdata analysiscognitive testingexperimental design neuropsychological assessmentslongitudinal studiesstatistical modelingbrain imaging techniques
Output against the department
Publications391top 9% of dept.26th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations38ktop 5% of dept.16th 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.