Lab of Natalie Ebner, Ph.D.
Department: Psychology
Hometown: Zurich, Switzerland
Doctorate from: University of Zurich, Switzerland
Research focus: Neural mechanisms underlying speech perception, language processing and socio-emotional cognition in aging. My work combines EEG, MRI and psychophysiological methods to identify early biomarkers and modifiable risk factors of cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
What drives me: The underlying potential for healthy aging. Although aging is often characterized by decline, I firmly believe that this phase of life is marked by enormous potential, resilience and adaptability. To harness this potential, we need comprehensive, naturalistic experimental paradigms that address real-world challenges, and we must use the knowledge gained from research to actively overcome these challenges.
Something few people know about me: I have a great passion for drawing and painting, and I often use this for overly detailed summaries and visualizations when studying, especially for neuroanatomical content.
My favorite food: “Züri Gschnätzlets” — a traditional dish from Switzerland with veal, mushrooms and hash browns. Ask me how to pronounce it!
In my free time: You’ll find me absorbed by a good book, painting or out and about on my bike.
“I have always been motivated to understand how something works. Not just understand, but utilize this to ideally improve the way it works. I started studying psychology because I was always interested in human perception and how we make sense of the world. I’m interested in how human experiences are shaped, and how problems evolve.”