Courtney (Aul) Guida, MA

Research Interests

Broadly, my research interests are centered on the neuropsychology of aging and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). I aim to leverage research on basic cognitive processes to provide insight into the factors that promote resilience to age-related decline, and to inform the development of targeted interventions to remediate impairments. I am currently focused on the interaction between cognition, namely attention and executive function, and gait across healthy aging and in persons with Parkinson’s disease.

Relevant Experience

Prior to coming to BU, I worked as a research assistant in the Boston Attention and Learning Lab (BALLAB) at the Boston VA where I was involved in projects examining the translational applications of basic attention paradigms. Specifically, we explored the mechanistic link between mobility changes in aging and sustained attention relative to traditional neuropsychological measures of executive functioning. Additionally, I had the opportunity to collaborate on a project with Dr. Cronin-Golomb investigating how Parkinson’s disease side-of-onset predicts attention deficits and differential motor outcomes following attentional training.

Current Projects

I am currently working with Dr. Cronin-Golomb on a project using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine brain activity during dual-task walking and during a sustained attention task in persons with Parkinson’s disease as part of a large interdisciplinary collaboration with Dr. David Boas, Dr. Meryem Yücel (Biomedical Engineering), and Dr. Terry Ellis (Sargent College). Additionally, I will be working on a project examining how visual sustained attention and gait fluctuate within individuals over time using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in collaboration with Dr. Esterman (Boston VAMC and BU Psychiatry).

Hobbies and Interests

In my free time, I love reading, going to concerts, and spending time with my dog, Gracie.

Publications

Kaplan, R.I., Girnis, G., Sebastian, A., Mukadam, N., Guida, C., Ellis, T., Cronin-Golomb, A., Yücel, M. A. (in press) Patterns of Prefrontal Cortical Activity Associated with Attention-Demanding and Motor Aspects of Dual-Task Walking as Measured with Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. Behavioral Neuroscience.

Esterman, M., Agnoli, S., Evan, T., Jagger-Rickels, A., Rothlein, D., Guida, C., Hughes, C., & DeGutis, J. (2025). Characterizing the Effects of Emotional Distraction on Sustained Attention and Subsequent Memory: A Novel Emotional Gradual Onset Continuous Performance Task. Behavior research methods, 57(5), 141. 10.3758/s13428-025-02641-2

Guida, C., Kim, M., Stibolt, O., Lompado, A., & Hoffman, J.E. (2024). The N400 Component Reflecting Semantic and Repetition Priming of Visual Scenes is Suppressed During the Attentional Blink. Atten Percept Psychophys, 10.3758/s13414-024-02997-1

DeGutis, J., *Aul, C., *Barthelemy, O.J., Marin, A., Davis, B., Alshuaib, S., Kinger, S.B., Wu, J.Q., Weizenbaum, E., Saint-Hilaire, M.-H., Ellis, T.D., Cronin-Golomb, A. (2023). Parkinson’s Disease Side of Onset Predicts Sustained Attention Deficits and Motor Improvements After Attention Training. Neuropsychologia, 190:108698 (*Co-second authors).

Aul, C., Brau, J. M., Sugarman, A., DeGutis, J. M., Germine, L. T., Esterman, M., McGlinchey, R. E., & Fortenbaugh, F. C. (2023). The functional relevance of visuospatial processing speed across the lifespan. Cognitive research: principles and implications, 8(1), 51.

*Park, H., *Aul, C., DeGutis, J., Lo, O.-Y., McGlinchey, R., Bean, J.F., Leritz, E., & Esterman, M. (2021). Evidence for a Specific Association Between Sustained Attention and Gait Speed in Middle-to-Older-Aged Adults. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 13:703434. (*Co-first authors).

Posters and Presentations

Little, E., Mukadam, N., Kaplan, R., Guida, C., Yücel, M.A., Ellis, T.D., Cronin-Golomb, A. (July 2025). Dual-Tasking and Prefrontal Activation in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease and Healthy Adults: The Role of Cognitive Reserve. Poster presented at Neuroscience in the Everyday World Conference.

Aul, C., Cronin-Golomb, A., Lo, O-Y., & Esterman, M. (February 2025). Sustained Attention and Executive Functioning Predict Mobility Decline in Older Adults. Poster presented at the International Neuropsychological Society 53rd Annual Meeting.

Kaplan, R.I., Mukadam, N., Aul, C., Rowe, M., Eklund, N.M., Nordahl, T.J., Yücel, M.A., Ellis, T.D., Cronin-Golomb, A. (September 2024). Naturalistic Walking in Parkinson’s Disease: Prefrontal Cortex Activity Measured with Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. Poster presented at the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Annual Meeting.

Kaplan, R. I., Mukadam, N., Aul, C., Nordahl, T., Eklund, N., Yucel, M.A., Ellis, T.D., & Cronin-Golomb, A. (September 2024). Effect of Baseline on Prefrontal Brain Activity during Single- and Dual-Task Walking in Healthy Adults and Persons with Parkinson’s Disease. Poster presented at the Society for Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Conference.

Mukadam, N., Kaplan, R.I., Aul, C., Nordahl, T., Eklund, N.M., Yücel, M.A., Ellis, T.D., Cronin-Golomb, A. (August 2024). Prefrontal Brain Activity During Single- and Dual-Task Walking in Healthy Adults and Persons with Parkinson’s Disease with Subjective Cognitive Concerns. Poster presented at Neuroscience of the Everyday World Conference.

Kaplan, R.I., Aul, C., Girnis, J. L., Mukadam, N., Yücel, M.A., Ellis, T.D., Cronin-Golomb, A. (February 2024). Does Direction Matter When Walking Under Single- and Dual-Task Conditions? An Examination Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. Poster presented at the International Neuropsychological Society 52nd Annual Meeting.

Kaplan, R.I., Mukadam, N., Girnis, J., Aul, C., Sebastian, A., Gao, Y., Stuber, A., Boas, D.A., Kiran, S., Somers, D.C., von Lühmann, A., Yücel, M.A., Ellis, T.D., Cronin-Golomb, A. (October 2023). Increased Cortical Efficiency in the Absence of Behavioral Improvement on Working Memory Task Revealed by Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. Poster presented at The National Academy of Neuropsychology Annual Meeting.

Kaplan, R.I., Girnis, J.L., Aul, C., Mukadam, N., Yücel, M.A., Ellis, T.D., & Cronin-Golomb, A. (August 2023). Lateralization of brain activation patterns using fNIRS during clockwise and counterclockwise overground walking. Poster presented at Neuroscience of the Everyday World Conference.

Aul, C., Kinger, S.B., Ellis, T.D., Cronin-Golomb, A., DeGutis, J. (February 2022). Parkinson’s disease side of onset predicts sustained attention deficits and motor improvements after attention training. Paper presented at the International Neuropsychological Society 47th Annual Meeting.

Aul, C., Park, H., DeGutis, J., Lo, O.-Y., McGlinchey, R., Bean, J.F., Leritz, E., & Esterman, M. (November 2021). Evidence for a Specific Association Between Sustained Attention and Gait Speed in Middle-to-Older-Aged Adults.Poster presented at The Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting.