Colette M. Smart

Biography

  Dr. Colette M. Smart is a Associate Professor at The University Of Victoria.  

Research Interest

 My areas of research and clinical interest are twofold. The first area of interest is subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in older adults. Although persons with SCD appear clinically "normal" on standardized testing, a significant proportion of these individuals go on to develop mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Studying SCD provides information about the natural course of dementia in older adults, as well as unique opportunities for early prevention-intervention. I am particularly interested in the use of cognitive neuroscience methods to corroborate the subjective experience of cognitive impairment in persons with SCD, focusing on the specific role of attention and executive functions. I am also interested in non-pharmacologic interventions for SCD, including mindfulness training and other forms of cognitive rehabilitation. I am a core member of the Subjective Cognitive Decline Initiative (SCD-I), an international working group of researcher-clinicians focused on the study of SCD and development of consensus guidelines for diagnosis and management. My second area of research is focused on the biobehavioral bases of self-regulation, understanding how we engage in moment-to-moment regulation of attention, emotion, and interoceptive awareness. This interest came from my experiences as a clinician, observing that difficulties in self-regulation are a core feature of many neurological and psychological disorders and can be rather challenging to ameliorate. As a long-term meditator, I also observed that various types of meditation practice involve a core component of self-regulation. In ProjectSMART (The Science of Meditation and its Application to Rehabilitation Technologies), we are looking at meditative practices as an exemplar for understanding self-regulation. By studying the impact of meditation in novice and expert meditators, we can better understand the mechanisms that support self-regulation in healthy individuals. Taking a "bench to bedside" approach, this information then provides a scientific basis for development of interventions for individuals with disorders of self-regulation, such as our recent work applying mindfulness training in older adults. Interests Clinical neuropsychology Cognitive rehabilitation Aging Affective neuroscience Meditation practices