Fellows

Kathryn J. Devaney, PhD

Kathryn J. Devaney, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Education History:
Ph.D., Brain, Behavior and Cognition, Boston University
M.Sc., Brain Behavior and Cognition, Boston University
B.Sc., Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Kathryn’s PhD thesis examined attention and default mode network function in experienced meditators, relative to matched controls. Using fMRI conducted while meditators and non-meditators performed highly demanding attention tasks, she found that meditation experience was associated with higher levels of activity in sustained attention networks and lower activity in the default mode network under high attentional demand.

Research Interests:
Kathryn has been designing and conducting fMRI experiments at 3T and 7T since 2005 and is currently at the Berenson Allen Center to expand her knowledge of non-invasive brain stimulation. She is broadly interested in describing causal factors contributing to healthy attentional function as a proxy to understand human flourishing.

Personal Interests / Hobbies:
Kathryn enjoys hiking in Vermont, pursuing the perfect cup of coffee, meditating with friends, trying new recipes, and seeing live music. She also volunteers on the board of the SF Dharma Collective, a meditation center that she started with her friends in San Francisco.

Personal Goals:
Kathryn aims to leverage both her scientific training and her meditation experience for the benefit of others.

Publications:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vXNHNbcAAAAJ&hl=en .