Ingrid Johnsrude facts for kids

Ingrid Suzanne Johnsrude is a Canadian scientist who studies the brain. She is a professor of psychology at the University of Western Ontario. She used to hold a special research position called the Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience. Her work looks at how the brain works, how its parts connect to language, and how to find brain diseases in older people.

Early Life and Education

Ingrid Johnsrude studied psychology at Queens University. She graduated in 1989. She then went on to McGill University for her advanced studies. There, she earned her Ph.D. in 1997. Her supervisor was Brenda Milner, a very famous brain scientist.

After her Ph.D., she continued her research at University College London. Later, she became a scientist at the Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge, England. In Cambridge, she studied how the brain's structure affects learning. She also looked at which brain parts are active when we understand speech. In 2004, she returned to Queens University as a professor.

Important Research and Discoveries

Ingrid Johnsrude has done a lot of important research on the brain. Her work often uses brain imaging techniques. This helps scientists see what is happening inside the brain.

Brain Structure and Language

One of her main research areas is how the structure of the brain connects to our ability to use language. She studies how different parts of the brain work together when we speak, listen, or read.

Understanding Brain Diseases

She also researches how to diagnose degenerative brain diseases. These are conditions that cause brain cells to break down over time. Her work helps doctors understand and find these diseases in older people.

Famous Taxi Driver Study

In 2003, Dr. Johnsrude and her team received an unusual award. They won an Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine. This prize is given for funny or unusual scientific achievements. They won for their study on London taxi drivers. Their research showed that London taxi drivers had a more developed hippocampus. The hippocampus is a part of the brain important for memory and navigation. This suggests that their job, which requires a lot of navigation, might change their brain structure.

Highly Cited Work

A paper she wrote in 2001 is very important in her field. It was about a brain imaging method called voxel-based morphometry. This paper is one of the most referenced articles in the NeuroImage journal. This means many other scientists have used her work in their own research.

Awards and Recognition

Ingrid Johnsrude has received several important awards for her excellent research.

Canada Research Chair

In 2004, she was given a Canada Research Chair. This is a special position for top researchers in Canada. It helps them focus on their important studies. Her chair was renewed in 2009, showing her continued success.

E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship

In 2009, the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, gave her the NSERC E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship. This award is given each year to a few young Canadian researchers. It recognizes those with a great international reputation for their work.

Global Young Academy

In 2010, Ingrid Johnsrude was chosen to be part of the Global Young Academy. This group brings together young scientists from all over the world. They work together to address global challenges and promote science.