Allison Throm

• SOAR Position: Secretary (2024-2025)
• Major: Biology
• Faculty Mentor(s): Dr. James Houston

Current Focus: Interplay Between Pain, Age, and Cognition - Visual Search and N-Back Tasks

Project Description

Normative aging is associated with decline in executive cognitive functions such as attention and working memory. It is generally accepted that cognition is also impaired by pain, so cognitive impairment due to pain may be further confounded by age, especially when considering the experience of pain changes with age. The objective of our study is to identify and characterize associations between general self-reported pain and cognitive function in relation to age through cognitive-evaluative tasks assessing attention (visual search) and working memory (n-back task). We will evaluate behavioral correlates using variables such as response time and accuracy, and physiological correlates will be evaluated via electroencephalography (EEG) analysis. By recruiting a population of individuals across the lifespan, we hope to contribute more widely applicable and accurate insight to the consequences of living with subclinical pain and the unique effects of pain on older individuals.

Why does this topic interest you?

I have always been intrigued by behavioral neuroscience, and I want to pursue a career in medicine, so this project aligned with my interests and aspirations. Studying the relationship between pain and cognition using EEG technology has enhanced my research experience by allowing me to work with a device that is also used in the medical world to diagnose a variety of brain conditions. Additionally, this project serves an important purpose which is to expand our understanding of the disruptive effects of subclinical pain by including the aging population so as to improve outcomes for older patients that are disproportionately affected by pain.

What are your professional aspirations?

After graduating, I plan to attend an MD or DO program, possibly combined with a PhD program. My ultimate goal is to be a physician that also conducts research.

Do you have any advice for future researchers?

Don't be afraid of asking questions or being new to something -- that's the whole point of research! Take uncertainties and new experiences as opportunities to learn, and you will get the most out of them. Likewise, the more involved you are in your research, the more you will get out of it, so take advantage of everything MTSU and SOAR has to offer - opportunities to present, grant funding, and abstract workshops to name a few. Finally, a great mentor makes ALL the difference, so look and ask around to find a mentor that aligns with your interests and your goals.

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