Leslie  Vaughan, PhD, OTR/L

Teaching Experience: Laboratory Instructor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Introduction to Statistics and Research Methods in Psychology). Teaching Assistant, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Cognitive Science, Introductory Psychology). Mentor (Laboratory volunteers, Independent Research in Psychology course, Supervisor for undergraduate research assistants). Clinical Experience: Occupational Therapist, The Children's Center for the Disabled and the United Way, Winston-Salem, NC (2000-2003).

My primary research interest is the influence of cognitive aging on the ability to produce complex behaviors in daily life. In particular, my research focuses on cognitive aging and working memory (WM), with an emphasis on executive control processes that operate in WM and determine cognitive flexibility. Executive control processes are implicated in complex behaviors such as problem-solving, planning, and adapting to novel changes in the environment. Further, executive control processes impact the ability to perform daily life activities that are necessary for independence, especially as we age. These instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are requirements for independent living, and include higher-level activities such as managing finances and maintaining a household. Currently, the the relationship between executive control processes and IADLs is not well understood. How do executive control processes impact older adults' ability to perform necessary daily life activities? What executive control processes might have the most influence on older adults' ability to perform necessary daily life activities? Answering these questions is important from an ecological standpoint, and entails understanding the constructs of executive control, IADLs, and the moderating influence of age.