Nancy A. Zook, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Psychology
School of Natural and Social Sciences

Office: Nat. Sci. 1005
Tel: (914) 251-6869
Fax: (914) 251-6635
Email: nancy.zook@purchase.edu

Education

• Ph.D., Cognitive Psychology, 2005, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
• M.A., Psychology, Neuropsychology Emphasis, 2002, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
• B.S., Psychology, Minor: Biology, 1997, Manchester College, North Manchester, IN

Teaching

• 2005-present, Assistant Professor, Purchase College, SUNY
• 2002-2005, Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Colorado State University
• 2001-2002, Graduate Teaching Assistantship, University of Northern Colorado

Courses Taught

Psychological Testing and Measurement, Physiological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Introduction to Psychology, Neuropsychology, Science in the Modern World: Anatomy of a Thought

Research Interests

Dr. Zook's research consists of examining the construct of executive function/executive control. Her primary interest is in the developmental pattern seen in executive function from childhood to older adulthood and how this behavioral pattern relates to anatomical changes in the frontal lobes. She is also interested in the relationship between executive function performance and fluid intelligence. Her secondary research interests involve improving the psychometric properties of tests of executive function, particularly the Tower of London. In collaboration with a neurorehabilitation center, Dr. Zook has also examined the role of neuropsychological tests in predicting older adult’s driving abilities.

Publications

Zook, N.A., Davalos, D.B., DeLosh, E.L., and Davis, H.P. (2004). Working memory, inhibition, and fluid intelligence as predictors of performance on Tower of Hanoi and London tasks. Brain and Cognition, 56, 286-292.

Zook, N., Welsh, M., & Ewing, V. (2006). Performance of healthy, older adults on the Tower of London-Revised: Comparisons with the WAIS-III Vocabulary and Matrix Reasoning Subtests. Journal of Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition, 13, 1-19.

Zook, N.A. & Davalos, D.B. (2006). Can fluid and general intelligence be differentiated in an older adult population? Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 29, 143-145.

Bugg, J., Zook, N.A., Delosh, E.L., & Davis, H.P. (in press). Examining the roles of speed of processing and fluid intelligence in cognitive aging. Brain and Cognition.