Edward G. Freedman, Ph.D.

As part of the Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab (CNL) at the University of Rochester, my research focuses on understanding the neural underpinnings of sensory processing, cognitive control of behavior, and the interactions of motor control and executive functions across the human lifespan. We have ongoing projects in the Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit investigating differences in sensory processing in opioid-exposed neonates, and at the other end of the lifespan, studies using our novel Mobile Brain/Body Imaging techniques to uncover hidden cognitive decline in aging and degenerative disease like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The CNL also has a large group working on understanding sensory perception in children and adults who have a diagnosis of Autism, We have projects on sensory processing in children who have rare lysosomal storage disorders (Rett Syndrome and Batten Disease are example). We also have a project investigating visual attention differences in children and adults who are deaf, and we have a project investigating the impact on executive functions of a combined cocaine addiction and HIV+ serostatus.

Fundamentally, my research interests focus on understanding the brain, how neural mechanisms control behavior and how these functions are altered in developmental disorders, due to environmental exposures, and in aging.