Sydney Trask

Areas of Expertise

• learning theory
• memory
• behavioral neuroscience

HHS Signature Research Area(s)

• Healthy Lifestyles and Vital Longevity

Department of Psychological Sciences Research Area(s)

• Neuroscience and Behavior

Biography

After completing her undergraduate degree at Kent State University, Sydney earned her PhD at the University of Vermont and conducted her postdoctoral work at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before. Sydney started her research group at Purdue in 2021, where they study the ways the brain encodes, stores, retrieves, and updates memory. She is particularly interested in understanding memory for context, or the environment in which events take place. Successful encoding and retrieval of context allows us to select and guide our behavior in a way that encourages situationally appropriate responding. However, alterations in this type of memory are common in symptomology that underlies several neuropsychiatric disorders, ranging from PTSD to age-related dementia. Understanding how memory for context is formed, retrieved, and altered at both the circuit and molecular levels will provide one step towards reducing maladaptive behaviors stemming from contextually inappropriate responding.

Education

• PhD, 2017, University of Vermont
• MA, 2014, University of Vermont
• BA, 2012, Kent State University

Websites

• Trask Lab

Social Media Accounts

• Sydney Trask Twitter

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• Executive Director, Women In Learning

Current Courses

• PSY 31400 - Introduction to Learning