Our team – Control and Adaptive Behavior Laboratory

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Jason M. Chein, Ph.D.

Dr. Chein is the Principal Investigator of the Control & Behavior Laboratory (CAB Lab) at Temple University and the director of the Temple University Brain Research & Imaging Center (TUBRIC). He is a Professor of Psychology in the department’s Cognition and Neuroscience area. For more about his background (including courses that he teaches), please see his faculty page and his current curriculum vitae.

jason.chein@temple.edu

POST-GRADUATES

Lena Skalaban, Ph.D.

Lena is a post-doc in the Control and Adaptive Behavior laboratory, co-advised by Dr. Jason Chein and Dr. Vishnu Murty. Lena received her B.A. from New York University and Ph.D. from Yale University. Her dissertation research with Dr. BJ Casey focused on how working memory and long-term memory interact and change across the lifespan, and how the type of information remembered or forgotten at different ages might be adaptive for a particular developmental period. Currently, Lena is interested in understanding how related forms of learning and memory, like semantic memory or working memory, might bolster and/or interfere with episodic memory performance across development. In her spare time, Lena likes to run and play soccer so that she can cook and eat food with reckless abandon.

lena.skalaban@temple.edu

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Büşra Tanriverdi
Ph.D. Candidate

Email ✦ LinkedIn ✦ Twitter

Büşra is a graduate student in the Cognition and Neuroscience area of the department, co-mentored by Drs. Jason Chein and Ingrid Olson. Her research broadly focuses on understanding how social and affective processes interact with learning and memory. In one line of her work, she investigates post-encoding replay processes that contribute to memory retrieval, with a particular interest in aversive information. In her second line of work, she studies how sensitivity to social feedback interacts with social/person memory. She uses a combination of behavioral and neuroimaging (fMRI) methods in her studies. With a deep interest in emotional and traumatic memories, she continues to collaborate with Dr. Vishnu “Deepu” Murty and co-leads an interdisciplinary Trauma Reading Group in the program. In her free time, she enjoys watercolor painting, socializing with her friends, and exploring Philly.

busra.tanriverdi@temple.edu

Steven Martinez
Ph.D. Student

Steven is a second-year graduate student in the Cognition and Neuroscience area of the department, co-mentored by Drs. Jason Chein and Deepu Murty. He is interested in studying interactions across learning, memory, and decision-making. In his free time, Steven is most likely playing soccer or exploring Philly!

Steven.Martinez@temple.edu

Isabel Leiva
Ph.D. Student

Isabel is a graduate student in the Social Psychology track, co-mentored by Drs. Jason Chein and Chelsea Helion. Her research interests lie in the interactions between social decision making, emotion regulation, memory, and how these processes contribute to prediction errors. When she isn’t in lab, she is either exploring the PA wilderness, reading, or drinking copious amounts of tea.

isabel.leiva@temple.edu

Shenghan Wang
Ph.D. Student

Shenghan is a first-year graduate student in the Cognition and Neuroscience area at Temple psychology department, co-mentored by Dr. Jason Chein and Dr. David Smith. They are interested in how top-down regulatory processes influence decision making and reward processing. Outside of research, they love staying physically active (city running, yes!), meditating, and learning new singing styles.

shenghan.wang@temple.edu

Lina Hu
Ph.D. Student

Lina is a first-year PhD student in the Cognition and Neuroscience area of the department. Her research focused on the interaction between perception and social concepts processing. Currently, she is interested in exploring the relationship between digital media use and individual cognitive development. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, swimming, and playing badminton.

RESEARCH COORDINATORS

Daniel Zweben

Danny is a post-baccalaureate researcher and research coordinator at CAB Lab. His research has focused on executive functioning and ADHD, cognitive dynamics in romantic relationships, and interventions for youth psychopathology. His current research involves working as the project coordinator of Project LITe, one of the ongoing studies in the lab, as well as investigating the relationship between time perception and social media use. He is interested in exploring the impact of social media use on ADHD symptoms, and the cognitive mechanisms associated with effective clinical interventions.

Daniel.zweben@temple.edu

Ashley Murray

Ashley is a recent 2024 honors graduate from Temple University. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Neuroscience. Ashley became a member of the lab in January 2022, where she began her work as an undergraduate research assistant. She has predominantly worked on Project LITe. Her research interests are currently focused on the effects of digital media and technology use on executive functioning among kids, teens, and young adults. She also has an interest in studying the development of prosocial behaviors in kids and teens. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, running, and painting.

murray.ashley@temple.edu

Avi Dachs

Avi is a research associate who is responsible for streamlining recruitment and data collection processes at the lab. He uses excel, REDCap, python and R. Avi has been working in the Temple Neuroscience department at the Neuroeconomics Lab since 2022 and the CAB lab since 2023. He is currently getting his masters in business research at Temple University. Avi enjoys skiing, drawing, and coding in his free time.

abraham.dachs@temple.edu

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Brooke Shulski

Brooke joined the lab in the summer of 2023 as a MiNDS scholar. She predominantly works on Project LITe as an undergraduate research assistant. Brooke has also done research on the correlates of delinquent behavior across development. She is a psychology major and criminal justice minor and her research interests are in behavioral, social, and forensic psychology with a special interest in risk-taking behavior. In her free time, she enjoys trying new foods, binge-watching TV, and cuddling with her cat!

Megan Vince

Megan is a third-year student studying both Psychology and Criminal Justice. She is currently on the track to get her Master’s in Criminal Justice. Megan is interested in studying the mechanisms by which human behavior is influenced by their context and surroundings. When not in the lab, she volunteers at Temple’s Cherry Pantry, works as an Honors Peer Mentor, and is a member of both Alpha Phi Omega and Psychology Majors Association! In her free time, Megan likes playing video games and listening to all kinds of music!

Harry Green

Harry is an undergraduate student at Temple University, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. He is a LAURA scholar for the spring 2024 semester, working on a research project titled “Does the Brain’s Sensitivity to Social Feedback Predict Social Memory?” with Dr. Jason Chein. His current research involves utilizing MRI for data collection in Project LITe. Harry is interested in studying interactions across cognition, learning, and memory. In his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking, and coaching wrestling.

Yuliana Fartachuk

Yuliana is a senior psychology major with a minor in cognitive neuroscience. She joined the lab in the spring of 2022 to help with research on awake targeted memory reactivation. She is interested in learning more about neuroimaging, memory, and the effects of technology on the brain. Yuliana also works in the Alloy Mood and Cognition Lab, is on the PMA board, and runs the Ukrainian society on campus. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature, reading, and doing yoga. In the future, she wants to explore the link between memories, traumatic events, and neuropsychology to help with treatments for those affected by war and other traumatic experiences.

Jamie-Nicole Luistro

Jamie is a senior psychology major who joined the lab in January 2023. She is also a 4+1 master’s student in the Neuroeconomics Laboratory, mentored by Dr. David Smith. Her current research interests include neuroimaging, reward processing, and social media influences on the brain. Outside of the lab, she loves crocheting, painting, and trying new food places.

Jay Brooks-Justice

Jumira, a third-year Honors Psychology major with a minor in LGBT+ studies, joined the lab in the summer of 2023 to explore the effects of emerging technology and gain proficiency in neuroimaging. In addition to her academic pursuits, she serves as a Behavioral Health Technician, offering therapy to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Post-graduation, Jumira plans to attend graduate school, focusing on clinical psychology with the ultimate goal of becoming a clinical psychologist.

Nolan Lortz

Nolan is a third-year Psychology major pursuing a certificate in American Sign Language. He joined the lab in December 2023 to study the psychological effects of social media. Nolan is currently working on a project to study the influence of TikTok on time perception. In addition, Nolan is the Vice President of the Taekwondo club on campus, and works as a Building Manager at the Student Center. In his free time, Nolan enjoys percussion, fitness, and reading.

Ashley Hawk

Ashley is a junior undergraduate research assistant in the Control and Adaptive Behavior laboratory. Additionally, she serves as an undergraduate research assistant in the Adaptive Memory Lab and the Neuroeconomics Lab. Ashley is interested in diffusion imaging and investigating white matter structure. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, crocheting, and watching Formula 1.

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Graduate Students

As a doctoral student at CABLAB, Maria studied the cognitive and neural mechanisms of perspective taking. Her dissertation work investigated the construct validity of perspective taking, including the behavioral and neural association of spatial, cognitive, and affective types of perspective taking, and the potential role of attentional control in supporting domain general perspective-taking abilities. Maria now works as the Director of Assessment, Evaluation, and Research at Jefferson Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education at Thomas Jefferson University where she continues to conduct behavioral and psychometric research, including projects related to perspective-taking abilities of healthcare students and professionals.