Brain Empowerment Laboratory

Springfield College is proud to announce a new research partnership with Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing retirement community in Springfield, Mass. A new initiative called the Springfield College Brain Empowerment Laboratory will foster strengths-based, life-enhancing approaches to brain function in older adults and in people with disabilities. The College will have dedicated research space at Loomis Lakeside. A parallel lab using the same name will be housed in the Health Sciences Center on the Springfield College main campus.

The Laboratory and the Springfield College/Loomis Lakeside partnership will enable interdisciplinary collaboration in research across a wide array of areas of expertise, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, exercise physiology, athletic training, art therapy, counseling, and psychology.

The first study, currently underway, involves people with aphasia, a challenge with language ability, usually due to stroke. Funding for the study comes from a grant to Springfield College that was awarded to Dean of the School of Health Science and Rehabilitation Services Brooke Hallowell from Epstein Teicher Philanthropies.

Mohammad Haghighi, who specializes in aphasia, is currently in residence as a Springfield College visiting scholar. A PhD student from Ohio University, Haghighi is coordinating scheduling and is the principal investigator on the current study.

Future plans for the partnership include offering of clinical services, hosting students in residence, offering service-learning programs related to empowering approaches to aging, mentoring programs, and intergenerational programs in theater, music, and art.