University of Hertfordshire

Department of Psychology
University of Hertfordshire
College Lane
Hertfordshire
AL10 9AB

Tel : 01707 285282
Fax : 01707 285073

Email :

l.kvavilashvili@herts.ac.uk

Telephone:

(01707) 285121

Location:

Room 2H264, CP Snow, College Lane Campus

View my personal home page or work area

Subject Area :

Memory and Cognition

Personal Statement

My undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in psychology were both obtained in Tbilisi, Georgia (former Soviet Union). In 1993, I came to Britain as a Royal Society Postdoctoral Fellow to do joint research with Judi Ellis who at that time was in the University of Wales College of Cardiff. I joined the Department at the University of Hertfordshire, in the capacity of Research Fellow, in 1995. I am now a Professor of Cognitive Psychology.

Research

Member of Research Group: Learning, Memory and Thinking

My research interests mainly centre around cognitive, developmental and neuropsychological aspects of everyday memory phenomena such as prospective memory (i.e., remembering one's future intentions), autobiographical memory (including flashbulb memories), involuntary remembering or mind-popping, absent-mindedness and planning. I am also interested in methodological and theoretical issues of everyday memory research as well as cognitive psychology in general.

Teaching

My teaching duties mainly include:

1st and 2nd year tutorials
1st year labs on false memory and levels of processing
Core Research Skills module on MSc in Reserach Methods (module leader and teacher with George Georgiou, Karen Pine and Richard Wiseman)
3rd year option course "Advanced Topics in Memory" (module leader and teacher)
3rd year option course "Topics in Psychopathology" (module leader and teacher together with John Done and several other internal and external contributors)
Project supervision both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Publications

Elua, I., Laws, K. & Kvavilashvili, L. (2012). From mind-pops to hallucinations? A study of involuntary semantic memories in schizophrenia.Psychiatry Research, 196, 165-170.

Kvavilashvili, L. & Schlagman, S. (2011). Involuntary autobiographical memories in dysphoric mood: A laboratory study.Memory, 19, 331-345.

Erskine, J. A. K., Georgiou, G. & Kvavilashvili, L. (2010). I suppress, therefore I smoke: effects of thought suppression on smoking behavior.Psychological Science, 21, 1225-1230.

Kvavilashvili, L., Mirani, J., Schlagman, S., Erskine, J., & Kornbrot, D.E. (2010). Effects of age on the phenomenology and consistency of flashbulb memories of September 11 and a staged control event. Psychology and Aging, 25,391-404.

Kvavilashvili, L., Mirani, J., Schlagman, S., Foley, K. & Kornbrot, D.E. (2009). Consistency of flashbulb memories of September 11 over long delays: Implications for consolidation and wrong time slice hypotheses. Journal of Memory and Language, 61,556-572

Schlagman, S., Kliegel, M., Schulz, J., & Kvavilashvili, L. (2009). Differential effects of age on involuntary and voluntary autobiographical memory. Psychology and Aging, 24, 397-411.

Kvavilashvili, L., Kornbrot, D. E., Mash, V., Cockburn, J., & Milne, A. (2009). Differential effects of age on prospective and retrospective memory tasks in young, young-old and old-old adults. Memory, 17, 180-196.

Schlagman, S. & Kvavilashvili, L. (2008). Involuntary autobiographical memories in and outside the laboratory: How different are they from voluntary autobiographical memories? Memory and Cognition, 36, 920-932.

Kvavilashvili, L., & Fisher, L. (2007). Is time-based prospective remembering mediated by self-initiated rehearsals?: Role of cues, ongoing activity, age and motivation. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 136,112-132.

Schlagman,S., Schulz, J. & Kvavilashvili, L. (2006). A content analysis of involuntary autobiographical memories: Examining the positivity effect in old age. Memory, 14, 161-175.

Kvavilashvili,L., & Ellis, J. (2004). Ecological validity and the real-life/laboratory controversy in memory research: A critical and historical review. History & Philosophy of Psychology, 6, 59-80.

Kvavilashvili, L., & Mandler, G. (2004). Out of one's mind: A study of involuntary semantic memories. Cognitive Psychology, 48, 47-94.

Kvavilashvili, L., Mirani, J., Schlagman, S., & Kornbrot, D. (2003). Comparing flashbulb memories of September 11 and the death of Princess Diana: Effects of time delays and nationality. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 17,1017-1031.

Kvavilashvili, L., Messer, D.J. & Ebdon, P. (2001). Prospective memory in children: The effects of age and task interruption. Developmental Psychology, 37, 418-430.

Administrative and Professional

Chair of Deparmental Ethics Committee
Member of University Ethics Committee
Deputy Research Leader
Organiser of Psychology Research Seminar Program (with Prof. Marcel and Prof. Gilhooly)
Member of Academic Sub-Committee (D.Clin.Psy)
Member of Experimental Psychology Society (EPS)
Member of Psychonomic Society
Member of Association for Psychological Science
Associate Editor for Memory