Professor
M.D., University of Maryland, 1983
Memory and Cognition, Neural Mechanisms

Email: jhart@utdallas.edu
Phone: 972-883-3403
Office: JO 2.204

Research Interests

Dr. Hart’s research interests have focused on the neural basis of semantic memory in the human brain. His work spanning several decades has focused on identifying the organization of semantic memory in the human brain by proposing that there is both a categorical and featural structure to object memory that exists in multiple memory systems in the brain. His laboratory’s recent studies have used functional neuroimaging and electrophysiological investigations to explore the neural mechanisms underlying combining these components of an object together to form an integrated object memory. They recently reported that one neural mechanism by which object recall can occur is via synchronizing gamma brain rhythms that are modulated by the thalamus and proposed the Neural Hybrid Model of Semantic Memory. He is now investigating object memory and word finding deficits in multiple disease states in terms of both diagnosing and designing treatment options based on this model.

Recent Publications

Slotnick, S., Moo, L., Kraut, M., Lesser, R., & Hart, J. Thalamic modulation of cortical rhythms during semantic memory recall in humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 99(9): 6440-6443, 2002.

Kraut, M., Calhoun, V., Pitcock, J.A.., Cusick, C., Hart, J. Neural hybrid model of semantic object memory: Implications from event-related timing using fMRI. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 9:1031-1040, 2003.

Kraut, M., Pitcock, J., & Hart, J. Neural mechanisms of semantic memory. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, 4(6):461-5, 2004.

Kraut, M., Pitcock, J., Calhoun, V, Li, J., Hart, J. Neuroanatomic organization of sound memory in humans. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, in press.