Interests & Projects
Attention in Space
How statistical learning leads to attentional "habits"
With repeated shifts of attention toward regions of space where search targets often appear, participants appear to develop habits of shifting attention toward those regions. My work in this area underscores the distinction between where we focus attention and how we shift attention in dynamic search. This includes my virtual reality research exploring attentional habits in large-scale, 3-dimensional environments.
Attention in Time
Exploring temporal orienting and the neural effects of target response
Attention waxes and wanes over time in continuous tasks. Detecting a target in a stream of distractors has been shown to improve memory for concurrently appearing images or words. My work on this Attentional Boost Effect explores the mechanisms by which target detection enhances memory, the perceptual specificity of the memory enhancement, and the effects of patterns or predictability on the temporal orienting that supports the effect.
Attention and Emotion
How emotional states interact with a range of attentional mechanisms
Many of us have experienced increased concerns as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we know that emotion can affect attention, how do prolonged emotional states like heightened concerns affect acute tasks? Which components of attention are most sensitive to the effects of heightened concerns? These questions are explored in my recent exploration of the effects of COVID-related concerns on performance on attentional tasks.
Development of Attention
Typical and atypical trajectories of attentional development in early infancy
My postdoctoral work characterizing the development of attention in early infancy – using both analyses of behavioral data and pioneering awake infant functional neuroimaging data – aims to increase understanding of the role of attention in typical development. I also seek to uncover early markers of risk for atypical attentional development that could cue clinicians and researchers to seek early treatment in advance of clinical diagnosis in attention-related disorders, such as autism.
Highlighted Grants, Fellowships, & Honors
Institute of Child Development NIMH National Research Service T32 Award
2022
American Psychological Association Dissertation Research Award
2021
American Psychological Association Early Graduate Student Researcher Award
2019
University of Minnesota CLA 3-Minute Thesis First Place and People’s Choice
2019
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Award
2019
Recent Publications
Sisk, C. A., Toh, Y. N., Jun, J., Remington, R. W., & Lee, V. G. (2022). Impact of active and latent concerns about COVID-19 on attention. Cognitive research: principles and implications, 7(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-022-00401-w.
Sisk, C. A., & Lee, V.G. (2021). Concurrent target detection is associated with better memory for object exemplars. Psychonomic bulletin & review, https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-021-01983-0.
Sisk, C. A., Interrante, V., & Jiang, Y. V. (2021). Location probability learning in 3-dimensional virtual search environments. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 6(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-021-00284-3.
Recent Presentations
International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting 2023
Using Factor Analysis and Mixture Models to Elucidate the Broad Autism Phenotype in Infancy
Poster Presentation
Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting 2023
Autism Observation Scale for Infants Scores Predict Development of Autism-Related Traits in Unaffected Children
Poster Presentation
Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting 2022
Impact of active and latent concerns about COVID-19 on multiple attention tasks
Poster Presentation
Teaching Experience
June 2020 - August 2020
Instructor: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
August 2019 - December 2019
TA: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
September 2019 - April 2022
Guest Lecturer: Biopsychology, Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
Education
August 2017 - June 2022
Ph.D. University of Minnesota
Major in Psychology
Cognitive and Brain Sciences area
Minor in Translational Sensory Science
August 2013 - May 2017
B.A. University of Notre Dame
Major in Psychology
Second Major in English
Summa Cum Laude
Leadership, Service, & Outreach
NRT Student Coordinator
Planned professional development and outreach events for the NRT training program in translational sensory science through UMN's CATSS.
Abiitan Science Club
Coordinated a recurring meeting with members of Abiitan retirement community where we discuss articles on relevant sensory science topics.
Spring Research Day Conference Chair
Led the planning and coordination of the annual Center for Cognitive Science Spring Research Day Conference.
Academic Peer Review
Contributed to the field through peer review of manuscripts submitted to academic journals.