Ingrid Johnsrude
Encyclopedia
Ingrid Suzanne Johnsrude is a Canadian neuroscientist
, an associate professor of psychology in Queen's University
, and the holder of the Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience. Her research involves brain imaging
, the connections between brain structure
and language ability
, and the diagnosis of degenerative brain diseases
in the elderly.
Johnsrude did her undergraduate studies in psychology at Queens University, graduating in 1989, and went on for graduate studies to McGill University
, where she received her Ph.D. in 1997 under the supervision of Brenda Milner
. After postdoctoral studies at University College London
, she became a scientist at the Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit
in Cambridge, England, where she studied the relationship between neuroanatomy and the ability to be affected by operant conditioning
as well as the brain structures active during speech recognition. She returned to Queens University as a faculty member in 2004.
Johnsrude's 2001 work on voxel-based morphometry in the journal NeuroImage
is one of the most heavily cited papers in that journal. In 2003, Johnsrude and her co-authors received an Ig Nobel Prize
in Medicine for their work showing that London
taxi drivers
had more highly developed hippocampi
than those in other professions.
In 2004, while still an assistant professor, Johnsrude was awarded her Canada Research Chair; it was renewed in 2009. In 2009, Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper
presented Johnsrude with the NSERC E.W.R. Steacie
Fellowship, an award given annually to a small number of younger Canadian researchers with an international reputation for excellent research. In 2010, Johnsrude was elected to the Global Young Academy
.
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
, an associate professor of psychology in Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
, and the holder of the Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience. Her research involves brain imaging
Neuroimaging
Neuroimaging includes the use of various techniques to either directly or indirectly image the structure, function/pharmacology of the brain...
, the connections between brain structure
Neuroanatomy
Neuroanatomy is the study of the anatomy and organization of the nervous system. In contrast to animals with radial symmetry, whose nervous system consists of a distributed network of cells, animals with bilateral symmetry have segregated, defined nervous systems, and thus we can begin to speak of...
and language ability
Language proficiency
Language proficiency or linguistic proficiency is the ability of an individual to speak or perform in an acquired language. As theories vary among pedagogues as to what constitutes proficiency, there is little consistency as to how different organizations classify it...
, and the diagnosis of degenerative brain diseases
Neurodegeneration
Neurodegeneration is the umbrella term for the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, including death of neurons. Many neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s occur as a result of neurodegenerative processes. As research progresses, many...
in the elderly.
Johnsrude did her undergraduate studies in psychology at Queens University, graduating in 1989, and went on for graduate studies to McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, where she received her Ph.D. in 1997 under the supervision of Brenda Milner
Brenda Milner
Brenda Milner, is a Canadian neuroscientist who has contributed extensively to the research literature on various topics in the field of clinical neuropsychology. -Biography:...
. After postdoctoral studies at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, she became a scientist at the Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit
Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit
The ' is a branch of the UK Medical Research Council, based in Cambridge, England. The CBSU is a world-leading centre for cognitive neuroscience, with a mission to improve human health by understanding and enhancing cognition and behaviour in health, disease and disorder...
in Cambridge, England, where she studied the relationship between neuroanatomy and the ability to be affected by operant conditioning
Operant conditioning
Operant conditioning is a form of psychological learning during which an individual modifies the occurrence and form of its own behavior due to the association of the behavior with a stimulus...
as well as the brain structures active during speech recognition. She returned to Queens University as a faculty member in 2004.
Johnsrude's 2001 work on voxel-based morphometry in the journal NeuroImage
NeuroImage
NeuroImage is a scientific journal in the neuroimaging field. It publishes neuroscientific as well as methodological papers, often about functional neuroimaging and functional human brain mapping. When Karl J...
is one of the most heavily cited papers in that journal. In 2003, Johnsrude and her co-authors received an Ig Nobel Prize
Ig Nobel Prize
The Ig Nobel Prizes are an American parody of the Nobel Prizes and are given each year in early October for ten unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research. The stated aim of the prizes is to "first make people laugh, and then make them think"...
in Medicine for their work showing that London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
taxi drivers
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
had more highly developed hippocampi
Hippocampus
The hippocampus is a major component of the brains of humans and other vertebrates. It belongs to the limbic system and plays important roles in the consolidation of information from short-term memory to long-term memory and spatial navigation. Humans and other mammals have two hippocampi, one in...
than those in other professions.
In 2004, while still an assistant professor, Johnsrude was awarded her Canada Research Chair; it was renewed in 2009. In 2009, Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
presented Johnsrude with the NSERC E.W.R. Steacie
Edgar William Richard Steacie
Edgar William Richard Steacie, O.B.E. was a Canadian physical chemist and president of the National Research Council of Canada from 1952 to 1962....
Fellowship, an award given annually to a small number of younger Canadian researchers with an international reputation for excellent research. In 2010, Johnsrude was elected to the Global Young Academy
Global Young Academy
-Organization and membership:The academy is modeled after the German Junge Akademie and similar organizations in The Netherlands and Sudan.It has working groups on science education, science and society, early career development, and interdisciplinary issues....
.
External links
- Faculty web page at Queen's University.