Erkut Kucukboyaci, PhD

Head shot of Erkut Kucukboyaci, PhD

Associate Research Scientist, Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research

Department
Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research
Laboratory
Cognitive Functioning and Cognitive Rehabilitation Laboratory
Phone
973-324-8425
Email
ekucukboyaci@kesslerfoundation.org

Dr. Kucukboyaci is a clinical neuropsychologist who works with patients with acquired brain injury (e.g., TBI, stroke) and neurological disease (e.g., epilepsy, MS). His clinical research studies explore the efficacy of novel, accessible behavioral interventions to improve cognition and quality of life. He relies on data reduction methods to co-interpret demographic, clinical and neuroimaging data. His externally-funded projects aim to improve patient outcomes and clinical decision making (i.e., diagnosis, prognosis and individualized treatments). He is also engaged in training, advocacy and teaching that addresses big-picture issues in disability, healthcare and mental health services (e.g., diversity, social  justice,  cultural competence).

Expertise
Cognitive function & dysfunction
Cognitive Rehabilitation
Access to Care
Longitudinal Research
Learning
Executive Functions
Memory
Neuroimaging
Neuroplasticity
Diversity & Inclusion
Quantitative Models
Education
Postdoctoral Fellow - Traumatic Brain Injury Neuropsychology, Neuroscience and TBI Lab Fellowship
Postdoctoral Fellow - Rusk Rehabilitation / NYU Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Fellowship
PhD - SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology
MA - Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience Specialization, New York University
BA - Economics & Minor in French, Harvard University
Honors
Grass Foundation Young Investigator Award, 2015
Inamori Fellowship, 2013-2014
31st Annual Conference of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, FL, Best Student Poster, 2011
14th Annual NYU MA Psychology Research Conference, Best Student Poster, 2010
New York University MA scholar for academic distinction, 2008-2010
Harvard College and John Harvard Scholarships for academic achievement, 2000-2004
Robert College of Istanbul class valedictorian, Director’s Award recipient, 2000
Research Interests
  • Cognitive function & dysfunction,
  • Cognitive Rehabilitation,
  • Access to Care,
  • Longitudinal Research,
  • Learning,Memory,
  • Executive Functions,
  • Neuroimaging,
  • Neuroplasticity,
  • Diversity & Inclusion,  
  • Quantitative Models
Publications

View a more comprehensive listing of publications for Dr. Kucukboyaci on Research Gate

Kucukboyaci NE, Long C, Smith M, Rath JF, Bushnik T. (2018) cluster analysis of vulnerable groups in acute traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. pii: S0003-9993(18)30002-9. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2017.11.016. PubMed PMID: 29317223.

Chang YA, Kemmotsu N, Leyden KM, Kucukboyaci NE, Iragui VJ, Tecoma ES, Kansal  L, Norman MA, Compton R, Ehrlich TJ, Uttarwar VS, Reyes A, Paul BM, McDonald CR. (2017) multimodal imaging of language reorganization in patients with left temporal lobe epilepsy. Brain Lang. 170:82-92. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2017.03.012. PubMed PMID: 28432987; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5507363.

Leyden KM, Kucukboyaci NE, Puckett OK, Lee D, Loi RQ, Paul B, McDonald CR. (2015) what does diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tell us about cognitive networks in temporal lobe epilepsy? Quant Imaging Med Surg. 5(2):247-63. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2223-4292.2015.02.01. Review. PubMed PMID: 25853083; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4379319.

Kemmotsu N, Kucukboyaci NE, Leyden KM, Cheng CE, Girard HM, Iragui VJ, Tecoma  ES, McDonald CR. (2014) frontolimbic brain networks predict depressive symptoms in temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy Res. 108(9):1554-63. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2014.08.018. PubMed PMID: 25223729; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4194230.

Kemmotsu N, Kucukboyaci NE, Cheng CE, Girard HM, Tecoma ES, Iragui VJ, McDonald CR. (2013) alterations in functional connectivity between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex as a correlate of depressive symptoms in temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 29(3):552-9. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2013.09.039. PubMed PMID: 24176688; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3876964.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nuri_Erkut_Kucukboyaci    

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=y_Xm4HIAAAAJ&hl=en

Collaborating Studies

Strategy PLUS - Use of RehaCom software adjunctly with memory strategy training to treat memory impairments following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (supported by New Jersey Health Foundation); Feasibility of HOBSCOTCH in Refractory Epilepsy (an 8-week phone intervention developed by Dr. Jobst at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center; in collaboration with NYU and Dartmouth Hitchcock MC,grant support by NIDILRR) )

Studies