The Interface Between Cognition and Emotion in Aging The aging brain is capable of amazing resiliency and strength. I am interested in how persons successfully navigate the challenges of aging and in particular, how changes in cognition and emotion interact as persons get older. I hope that results of this work will provide clues for successful aging. I study the interface between cognition and emotion in healthy older adults and also in patients suffering from dementia. Dementia is a generic term for progressive neurodegenerative diseases that affect cognition, functioning, and emotion, primarily in older individuals. My work on healthy individuals and patient populations are synergistic. Results from research with dementia patients pose interesting and important questions to pursue in healthy older adults. Conversely, new assessment methodologies used with healthy older adults promise to open new avenues of exploration and assessment in patients with neurodegenerative disease. Methodologies used in my lab are varied but draw heavily from neuropsychology, cognitive psychology, and personality psychology. I hope to extend my work to include neurophysiological correlates of emotion experiences in older and younger adults in the future. For further information on current research projects and important websites in neuropsychology, neuropsychiatry, and gerontology, please visit Rebecca's personal homepage.

Rebecca E. Ready  Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment with Geriatric Populations

Peer-reviewed Publications:

Martire, L.M., Keefe, F.J., Schulz, R., Ready, R., Beach, S.R., Rudy, T.E., & Starz, T.W. (accepted for publication). Older spouses' perception of partner's chronic pain: Implications for spousal responses, support provision, and caregiving experiences. Psychology and Aging.

Ready, R.E., Ott, B.R., Grace, J. (accepted for publication). Factor structure of patient and caregiver ratings on the Dementia Quality of Life Instrument. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition.

Brown, L.B., Ott, B.R., Papandonatos, G.D., Sui, Y., Ready, R.E., & Morris, J.C. (2005). Prediction of on-road driving performance in patients with early Alzheimer's disease. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 53, 94-98.

Ready, R.E. & Clark, L.A. (2005). Psychiatric patient and informant reports of patient behavior. Journal of Personality, 73, 1-21.

Ready, R.E., Ott, B.R., & Grace, J. (2004). Patient- versus caregiver-perspectives of quality of life in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 19, 256-265.

Ready, R.E., Ott, B.R., & Grace, J. (2004). Validity of informant reports about AD and MCI Patient's memory. Alzheimer's Disease and Associated Disorders, 18, 11-16.

Ready, R.E., Friedman, J., Grace, J., & Fernandez, H. (2004). Testosterone deficiency and apathy in Parkinson's disease: A pilot study. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 75, 1323-1326.

Ready, R.E., Ott, B.R., Grace, J., & Cahn-Weiner, D. (2003). Apathy and executive dysfunction in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 11, 222-228.

Ready, R.E., Ott, B.R., & Grace, J. (2003). Amnestic behavior in dementia: Symptoms to assist in early detection and diagnosis. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 51, 32-37.

Stout, J.C., Ready, R.E., Grace, J., Paulsen, J.S., & Malloy, P.F. (2003). Factor analysis of the Frontal Systems Personality Scale. Assessment, 10, 1-7.

Cahn-Weiner, D.A., Ready, R.E., & Malloy, P. (2003). Neuropsychological predictors of everyday memory and everyday functioning in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease. The Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 16, 84-89.

Ready, R.E., Watson, D., & Clark, L.A. (2002). Psychiatric patient- and informant-reported personality: Predicting concurrent and future behavior. Assessment, 9, 361-372.

Ready, R.E. & Clark, L.A. (2002). Correspondence of psychiatric patient and informant ratings of personality traits, temperament, and interpersonal problems. Psychological Assessment, 14, 39-49.

Ready, R.E., Ott, B.R., Grace, J., & Fernandez, I. (2002). The Cornell-Brown Scale for Quality of Life in Dementia. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, 16, 109-115.

Ready, R.E., Paulsen, J.S., & Stierman, L. (2001). Ecological validity of neuropsychological and personality measures of executive function. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 15, 314-324.

Nehl, C., Ready, R.E., Hamilton, J., & Paulsen, J.S. (2001). The effects of depression on working memory in pre-symptomatic Huntington's disease. Journal of Clinical Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 13, 342-346.

Paulsen, J.S., Ready, R.E., Hamilton, J., Mega, M., & Cummings, J.L. (2001). Neuropsychiatric aspects of Huntington's disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 71, 310-314.

Clark, L.A., Kochanska, G., & Ready, R.E. (2000). Mothers' personality and its interaction with child temperament as predictors of parenting. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 274-285.

Paulsen, J.S., Ready, R.E., Stout, J.C., Salmon, D.P., Thal, L.J., Grant, I., & Jeste, D.V. (2000). Neurobehaviors and psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer's disease. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 6, 815-820.

Ready, R.E., Clark, L.A., Watson, D., & Westerhouse, K. (2000). Self- and peer-reported personality: Agreement, trait ratability, and the 'self-based heuristic.' Journal of Research in Personality, 34, 208-24.

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