Janet L. Shucard PhD
Janet L. Shucard
PhD
Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Behavioral Health; Brain Research; Clinical Psychology; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Electrophysiology; Neuropsychiatric Disorders; Neuroscience; Psychology
Professional Summary:
I am a licensed clinical psychologist and a cognitive neuroscientist. My clinical psychotherapy practice within the Department of Neurology focuses on the treatment of the psychological consequences that an individual experiences as a result of a neurological disorder or other chronic medically related problem. I use an eclectic approach that includes cognitive behavioral techniques to treat stress disorders, insomnia, depression and other emotional or behavioral problems that arise as a result of a medical condition. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a short-term and effective method that helps people identify and change thoughts, beliefs and attitudes that affect their feelings and behaviors. By restructuring patterns of thoughts, people are able to develop more effective coping skills, problem-solving strategies and emotional responses. I see patients in my office at the medical school on UB’s south campus. Neurologists or other health care professionals may refer patients to me or the patient may call my office directly using the contact information on my profile.
I am the associate director of the Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurosciences in the Department of Neurology. In our research laboratory, we apply electrophysiological (event-related brain potentials), neuropsychological and behavioral measures to the study of cognitive functions such as working memory/information processing speed, cognitive control and response inhibition. Specifically, the research areas include: neuropsychological and electrophysiological aspects of attention, inhibitory, cognitive control and other executive functions in individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); memory/processing speed deficits in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and multiple sclerosis (MS); ; and the relationships among cognitive function, psychological function and quality of life in patients with SLE and MS.
I mentor and train undergraduate and graduate students from the neuroscience program and UB’s Department of Psychology. Undergraduates and beginning graduate students learn about electrophysiological, behavioral, and cognitive testing methods, and they gain an understanding of the field of cognition and brain function. More advanced students conduct research projects in our laboratory, leading to undergraduate honors theses, master’s theses, and PhD dissertations.
Education and Training:
- PhD, Clinical Psychology, University at Buffalo (1995)
- Internship, Clinical Psychology Internship, Buffalo Veterans Administration Hospital (1994)
Employment:
- Associate Professor, Neurology, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Awards and Honors:
- Honors Research Award (1972)
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- January 2018–December 2021
The effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms on behavioral, psychological, and neurophysiological measures of decision making in police officers
National Institutes of Justice
Role: Principal Investigator
$814,158 - June 2017–December 2021
The effects of working memory training on brain function, structure, and cognition in MS
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Role: Principal Investigator
$622,839 - September 2014–December 2016
Does working memory training improve brain function and cognition in MS?
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Role: Principal Investigator
$44,000 - August 2014–April 2016
Does working memory training improve brain function and cognition in healthy individuals and in patients with Multiple Sclerosis?
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Role: Principal Investigator
$60,000 - January 2006–January 2011
Neurological indices of CNS involvement in non-CNS SLE
NIH
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,200,000 - January 2006–December 2006
Neurological Indices of CNS Involvement in SLE
James H. Cummings Foundation
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
$179,267 - June 2003–June 2004
Electrophysiological Measures of Processing Speed and Working Memory Deficits in Multiple Sclerosis
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Role: Principal Investigator
$39,600 - January 1998–October 2000
Neurocognitive Indices of Attention in PTSD
NIH
Role: Principal Investigator
$152,000
Journal Articles:
- Shucard J, Shucard D. (2013) Electrophysiological and Neuroimaging Studies of Cognitive Control: Evidence from Go/NoGo and Other Executive Function Tasks. International Journal of Psychophysiology (Jan), 87(3).
- Covey TJ, Shucard JL, Shucard DW. (2019) Working memory training and perceptual discrimination training impact overlapping and distinct neurocognitive processes: Evidence from event-related potentials and transfer of training gains. Cognition (Jan), 182: 50-72.
- Covey TJ, Shucard JL, Benedict RHB, Weinstock-Guttman B, Shucard DW. (2018) Improved cognitive performance and event-related potential changes following working memory training in patients with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational, and Clinical (Jan), 4(1): 1-15.
- Covey TJ, Shucard, JL, Shucard, DW. (2017) Event-related potential indices of cognitive dysfunction and brain resource reallocation during working memory in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Clinical Neuophysiology (Apr), 128: 604-621.
- Covey TJ, Shucard, JL, Shucard, DW. (2016) Evaluation of inhibitory control and distraction using event-related potentials in healthy individuals and patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (Jun), 9743: 165-176.
- Shucard, DW, Covey, TJ, Shucard, JL. (2016) Single trial variability of the P3 event-related potential as an index of neural efficiency during working memory. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (Jun), 9743: 273-283.
- Cesar B, Dwyer MG, Shucard JL, Polak P, Bergsland N, Benedict RH, Weinstock-Guttman B, Shucard DW, Zivadinov R. (2015) Cognitive and White Matter Tract Differences in MS and Diffuse Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol (Oct), 36(10): 1874-1883.
- Zivadinov R, Shucard JL, Hussein S, Durfee J, Cox JL, Bergsland N, Dwyer MG, Benedict RH, Ambrus J, Shucard DW. (2013) Multimodal imaging in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with diffuse neuropsychiatric involvement. Lupus (Jun), 22(7): 675-683.
- Shucard, J.L. & Shucard, D.W. (2013) Electrophysiological and Neuroimaging Studies of Cognitive Control: Introduction to Special Issue. International Journal of Psychophysiology (Mar), 87(3): 215-216.
- Covey, T.J., Shucard, J.L., Violanti, J.M., Lee, J., Shucard, D.W. (2013) The effects of exposure to traumatic stressors on inhibitory control in police officers: a dense electrode array study using a Go/NoGo continuous performance task. International Journal of Psychophysiology (Mar), 87(3): 363-375.
- Covey TJ, Shucard, JL, Shucard, DW, Stegen, S, Benedict RHB. (2012) Comparison of neuropsychological involvement and vocational outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Multiple Sclerosis patients. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society (May), 18(3): 541-555.
- Covey T.J., Shucard, J.L., Shucard, D.W., Stegen S., Benedict, R.H. (2012) Comparison of neuropsychological impairment and vocational outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Multiple Sclerosis patients. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society (Jan), 18: 1-11.
- Shucard JL, Cox J., Shucard D.W., Fetter H., Chung C., Ramasamy D., & Violanti J. (2012) Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder are related to structural MRI and behavioral measures of affective stimulus processing in police officers. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging (Jan).
- Shucard J.L., Cox J.L., Shucard D.W., Fetter H., Chung C., Ramasamy D., Violanti J. (2012) Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder are related to structural MRI and behavioral measures of affective stimulus processing in police officers. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging (Jan), 204: 25-31.
- Covey TJ, Zivadinov R, Shucard JL, Shucard DW. (2011) Information processing speed, neural efficiency, and working memory performance in multiple sclerosis: Differential relationships with structural magnetic resonance imaging. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol (Dec), 33(10): 1129-1145.
- Covey TJ, Zivadinov, R, Shucard, JL, Shucard, DW. (2011) Information processing speed, neural efficiency, and working memory performance in Multiple Sclerosis: Differential relationships with structural MRI. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology (Nov), 33(10): 1129-1145.
- Shucard JL, Lee WH, Safford AS, Shucard DW. (2011) The relationship between processing speed and working memory demand in systemic lupus erythematosus: evidence from a visual n-back task. Neuropsychology (Jan), 25(1): 45-52.
- Shucard JL, Tekok-Kilic A, Shiels K, Shucard DW. (2009) Stage and load effects on ERP topography during verbal and spatial working memory. Brain Res (Feb), 1254: 49-62.
- Shucard JL, McCabe DC, Szymanski H. (2008) An event-related potential study of attention deficits in posttraumatic stress disorder during auditory and visual Go/NoGo continuous performance tasks. Biol Psychol (Oct), 79(2): 223-233.
- Benedict RH, Shucard JL, Zivadinov R, Shucard DW. (2008) Neuropsychological impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus: a comparison with multiple sclerosis. Neuropsychol Rev (Jun), 18(2): 149-166.
- Benedict RH, Shucard JL, Zivadinov R, Shucard DW. (2008) Neuropsychological impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus: a comparison with multiple sclerosis. Neuropsychol Rev (Jun), 18(2): 149-166.
- Parmenter BA, Shucard JL, Shucard DW. (2007) Information processing deficits in multiple sclerosis: a matter of complexity. J Int Neuropsychol Soc (May), 13(3): 417-423.
- Shucard JL, Gaines JJ, Ambrus J, Shucard DW, Ambrus JL. (2007) C-reactive protein and cognitive deficits in systemic lupus erythematosus. Cogn Behav Neurol (Mar), 20(1): 31-37.
- Shucard JL, Gaines JJ, Ambrus J, Shucard DW, Ambrus, Jr. JL. (2007) C-reactive protein and cognitive deficits in systemic lupus erythematosus. Cogn Behav Neurol (Mar), 20(1): 31-37.
- Parmenter BA, Shucard JL, Benedict RH, Shucard DW. (2006) Working memory deficits in multiple sclerosis: comparison between the n-back task and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test. J Int Neuropsychol Soc (Sep), 12(5): 677-687.
- Everhart DE, Shucard JL, Quatrin T, Shucard DW. (2004) Tone probe event-related potential differences during a face recognition task in prepubertal children and Turner Syndrome girls. Psychoneuroendocrinology (Nov), 29(10): 1260-1271.
- Everhart DE, Shucard JL, Quattrin T, Shucard DW. (2004) Tone probe event-related potential differences during a face recognition task in prepubertal children and Turner Syndrome girls. Psychoneuroendocrinology (Nov), 29(10): 1260-1271.
- Thoman JE, Duffner PK, Shucard JL. (2004) Do serum sodium levels predict febrile seizure recurrence within 24 hours?. Pediatr Neurol (Nov), 31(5): 342-344.
- Shucard DW, Abara JP, McCabe DC, Benedict RB, Shucard JL. (2004) The effects of covert attention and stimulus complexity on the P3 response during an auditory continuous performance task. Int J Psychophysiol (Nov), 54(3): 221-230.
- Shucard JL, Parrish J, Shucard DW, McCabe DC, Benedict RH, Ambrus J. (2004) Working memory and processing speed deficits in systemic lupus erythematosus as measured by the paced auditory serial addition test. J Int Neuropsychol Soc (Jan), 10(1): 35-45.
- Benedict RH, Shucard DW, Santa Maria MP, Shucard JL, Abara JP, Coad ML, Wack D, Sawusch J, Lockwood A. (2002) Covert auditory attention generates activation in the rostral/dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. J Cogn Neurosci (May), 14(4): 637-645.
- Benedict RH, Shucard DW, Santa Maria MP, Shucard JL, Abara JP, Coad ML, Wack D, Sawusch J, Lockwood A. (2002) Covert auditory attention generates activation in the rostral/dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. J Cogn Neurosci (May), 14(4): 637-645.
- Everhart DE, Shucard JL, Quatrin T, Shucard DW. (2001) Sex-related differences in event-related potentials, face recognition, and facial affect processing in prepubertal children. Neuropsychology (Jul), 15(3): 329-341.
- Tekok-Kilic A, Shucard JL, Shucard DW. (2001) Stimulus modality and Go/NoGo effects on P3 during parallel visual and auditory continuous performance tasks. Psychophysiology (May), 38(3): 578-589.
- Shafer VL, Shucard DW, Shucard JL, Gerken L. (1998) An electrophysiological study of infants‘ sensitivity to the sound patterns of English speech. J Speech Lang Hear Res (Aug), 41(4): 874-886.
- Benedict RH, Lockwood AH, Shucard JL, Shucard DW, Wack D, Murphy BW. (1998) Functional neuroimaging of attention in the auditory modality. Neuroreport (Jan), 9(1): 121-126.
- Shucard DW, Shucard JL, Cooper R.R., Schacter M. (1992) Electrophysiological and neuropsychological indices of cognitive processing deficits in Turner Syndrome. Developmental Neuropsychology (Jan), 8: 299-323.
- Thomas D.G., Shucard DW, Shucard JL, Campos J.J. (1989) The effects of stimulus and laboratory experience on auditory evoked potentials in infancy. Developmental Neuropsychology (Jan), 5: 25-32.
- Shucard JL, Shucard DW, Patterson R, Guthrie R. (1988) Prenatal lead exposure and its potential significance for developmental disabilities: a preliminary study of umbilical cord blood lead levels. Neurotoxicology (Jan), 9(3): 317-326.
- Shucard DW, Shucard JL, Thomas DG. (1988) Neurophysiological studies of human cognitive development in premature infants: an approach to the study of maturational brain processes. Neurotoxicology (Jan), 9(3): 299-316.
- Shucard DW, Shucard JL, Thomas DG. (1987) Auditory event-related potentials in waking infants and adults: a developmental perspective. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol (Jul), 68(4): 303-310.
- Shucard DW, Spector SL, Euwer RL, Cummins KR, Shucard JL, Friedman A. (1985) Central nervous system effects of antiasthma medication--an EEG study. Ann Allergy (Mar), 54(3): 177-184.
- Shucard DW, Shucard JL, Campos JJ, Salamy JG. (1982) Some issues pertaining to auditory evoked potentials and sex-related differences in brain development. Brain Lang (Jul), 16(2): 342-347.
- Shucard DW, Cummins KR, Thomas DG, Shucard JL. (1981) Evoked potentials to auditory probes as indices of cerebral specialization of function--replication and extension. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol (Nov), 52(5): 389-393.
- Shucard JL, Shucard DW, Cummins KR, Campos JJ. (1981) Auditory evoked potentials and sex-related differences in brain development. Brain Lang (May), 13(1): 91-102.
- Shucard DW, Shucard JL. (1978) Stimulus intensity expectation and visual evoked brain potentials. Psychophysiology (Nov), 15(6): 522-530.
- Shucard DW, Shucard JL, Thomas DG. (1977) Auditory evoked potentials as probes of hemispheric differences in cognitive processing. Science (Sep), 197(4310): 1295-1298.
Books and Book Chapters:
- Shucard DW, Shucard JL, Thomas D.G. (1987) Language, Gender and Sex In Comparative Perspective. In: Sex differences in the patterns of scalp-recorded electrophysiological activity in infancy: Possible implications for language development. Cambridge University Press, 278-295.
- Shucard DW, Shucard JL, Thomas D.G. (1984) Continuities and Discontinuities in Development. In: The development of cerebral specialization in infants: Electrophysiological and behavioral studies. Plenum Publishing Corp., 293-314.
Abstracts:
- Ciupak GL, Quattrin T, Shucard JL, Shucard DW. (1997) Further Delineation of Cognitive Abilities in Turner Syndrome: Does Estrogen Play a Role?. J Int Neuropsychol Soc, (Jan) 35-35
- Quattrin T, Ciupak GL, Shucard DW, Shucard JL, Clopper RL, Voorhess ML. (1995) Turner Syndrome: Further Delineation of Visual Spatial Abilities and the Role of Estrogen Replacement Therapy. Pediatr Res, (Jan) 96A-96A
Professional Memberships:
- Society for Neuroscience
- American Psychological Association
- Society for Psychophysiological Research