Sarah Louise Hennessy.

Cognitive Scientist, Data Enthusiast, and Music-Lover.

I am a Post-Doctoral Scientist at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, working with Dr. Jessica Andrews-Hanna and Dr. Matthew Grilli.

 

I completed my PhD at the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute, studying Brain and Cognitive Science under the advisement of Dr. Assal Habibi and Dr. Antonio Damasio. ​

 

My research ​combines behavioral science and neuroimaging (EEG, fMRI) to explore:

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1. How we construct and maintain a sense of self across the lifespan

2. How music can evoke emotions like nostalgia and trigger autobiographical memories that help preserve identity, even in the face of cognitive decline

3. How functional brain networks support the self, emotion, and memory in both typical and disrupted aging.

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Recently, I have been developing my interest in AI, exploring how we can leverage large language models (LLMs) to improve data pipelines and interventions in both academic and industry settings. 

 

My customizable nostalgic music recommendation tool, Sounds Like This, developed in collaboration with Dr. Timothy Greer, is publicly available for music cognition researchers and interested listeners. 

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Outside of academia, I have worked in the health technology industry as a Research and Data Scientist.