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UT Tyler Psychology and Counseling

UT Tyler Memory Assessment and Research Center (MARC)

About the MARC

The UT Tyler Memory Assessment and Research Center (MARC) is a university center dedicated to improving the lives of Tyler, Smith County, and East Texas community members by providing neuropsychological screening and evaluation services to individuals with suspected or existing cognitive impairment, therapeutic services for their caregivers and family members, and innovative scientific research.  The MARC is a collaboration between The University of Texas at Tyler and the Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County.  The center provides UT Tyler students with training and clinical experience.

Director

Michael D. Barnett, Ph.D., L.P.
Assistant Professor | Department of Psychology and Counseling

Services Offered

  • Brain Health Screenings
  • Neuropsychological Evaluation
  • Caregiver Counseling

Research Contracts & Grants

  • Funded
    • 2019-2020. UT Tyler Internal Grant, New Faculty Grant. Using virtual reality to assess neuropsychological functioning and everyday functional capacities in older adults, $10,000. M. D. Barnett (PI). Awarded.
    • 2019-2021. Department of Defense. Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program Grant, New Investigator Award (FY18 Peer Reviewed Alzheimer’s Research Program). Virtual reality-based assessment of functional capacities in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease related dementia, $278,974. M. D. Barnett (PI), & T. D. Parsons (co-I). Awarded.

Publications

  • Book Chapters
    • Parsons, T. D., McMahan, T., Melugin, P. R., & Barnett, M. D. (2016). Virtual environment grocery store. In Kane, R. L., & Parsons, T. D. (Eds.) The role of technology in clinical neuropsychology. Oxford University Press.
  • Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
    • Parsons, T.D., McMahan, T., & Barnett, M. (In press). Assessment of cognitive and functional performance using a Virtual Environment Grocery Store with environmental distractors. Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine, 18.
    • Barnett, M. D., Parsons, T. D., & Moore, J. M. (In press). Measuring rapport in neuropsychological assessment: The Barnett Rapport Questionnaire. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult.
    • Parsons, T. D., & Barnett, M. D. (2019). Virtual Apartment-Based Stroop for assessing distractor inhibition in healthy aging. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult, 26(2), 144-154. doi:10.1080/23279095.2017.1373281
    • Parsons, T. D., & Barnett, M. D. (2018). Virtual Apartment Stroop Task: Comparison with computerized and traditional Stroop tasks. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 309, 35-40. doi:10.1016/j.jneumetho.2018.08.022
    • Barnett, M. D., Parsons, T. D., Bedford, L. A., & Reynolds, B. R. (2018). Impact of rapport on neuropsychological test performance. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult, 25, 258-265. doi: 10.1080/23279095.2017.1293671
    • Parsons, T. D., & Barnett, M. D. (2017). Validity of a newly developed measure of memory: Feasibility study of the Virtual Environment Grocery Store. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 59, 1227-1235. doi: 10.3233/JAD-170295
  • Peer Reviewed Scientific Abstracts Published in Journals
    • Smith, L. N., Helphrey, J. H., Sawyer, J., Fierro, L. A., Mokhtari, B. K., Moore, J. M., Rodriguez, D., & Barnett, M. D. (2019). Ramble on: Loneliness and off-topic verbosity in older adults. Innovations in Aging, 3(S1), 531.
    • Smith, L. N., Helphrey, J. H., Sawyer, J. D., Rodriguez, D., Rose, D. W., Fierro, L. A., Moore, J. M., Parsons, T. D., & Barnett, M. D. (2019). A-21 Inhibition of overlearned verbal responses and quantity of speech among age cohorts. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 34(6), 880. doi:10.1093/arclin/acz034.21
    • Helphrey, J. H., Smith, L. N., Rodriguez, D., Rose III, D. W., Sawyer, J. D., Edzards, S. M., Fierro, L. A., Moore, J. M., Parsons, T. D., & Barnett, M. D. (2019). Sustained attention, impulsivity, and tangentiality of speech among young adults and older adults. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 34(6), 827. doi:10.1093/arclin/acz034.13
    • Smith, L. N., Helphrey, J., Moore, J., Sawyer, J., Rodriguez, D., Okoro, A. J., Coldiron, A. M., Parsons, T. D., & Barnett, M. D. (2019). Adapting measures of the therapeutic alliance for measuring rapport in neuropsychological testing. Clinical Neuropsychologist, 33(4), 709-710.
    • Helphrey, J. H., Smith, L. N., Fierro, L. A., Sawyer, J. D., Quintana, C. P., Edzards, S. M., Jofre, D. M., Parsons, T. D., & Barnett, M. D. (2019). Verbal speed and set-shifting in relation to quantity and tangentiality of speech among age cohorts. Clinical Neuropsychologist, 33(4), 685-686.
    • Parsons, T. D., Barnett, M. D., & McMahan, T. (2016). Impact of distractors on executive control in older adults: Construct-driven and function-led approaches to neuropsychological assessment. Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine, 14, 71-77.
    • Parsons, T. D., Barnett, M. D., & Dumas, B. (2015). Virtual multiple errands test for “ecologically valid” assessment of cohort memory effects. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 30. doi: 10/1093/arclin/acv047.244
    • Sullivan, E., Barnett, M. D., Dumas, B., Sligar, K. B., & Parsons, T. D. (2015). The effect of distractions on geriatric and college-aged samples within a Virtual Apartment Stroop task. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 20, 84.

Presentations

  • Bennett-Leleux, L. J., Flores, E. V., Reed, C. M., Donnell, R. L., Markey, C. E., Glover, T. L., Rodriguez, D., Coldiron, A. M., & Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). Visual working memory and procedural learning and memory in a virtual reality environment among older adults. Poster accepted for presentation at the 2020 annual meeting of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, Washington, D.C.
  • Coldiron, A. M, Sandlin, A. M., Markey, C. E., Gutierrez, R. M., Bennett, L. J., Sawyer, J. D., Smith, L. N., Moore, J. M., Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). Comparing event-based and time-based prospective memory over short and longer delays in a virtual reality environment. Poster accepted for presentation at the 2020 annual meeting of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, Washington, D.C.
  • Gutierrez, R. M., Flores, E. V., Shorter, S. S., Donnell, R. L., Vasquez, M. A., Tran, N., Mollenkopf, K. K., Coldiron, A. M., & Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). Correlations between self-report and performance-based measures of adaptive functioning among older adults. Poster accepted for presentation at the 2020 annual meeting of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, Washington, D.C.
  • Reed, C. M., Sandlin, A. M., Glover, T. L., Mokhtari, B. K., Smith, L. N., Sawyer, J. D., Helphrey, J. H., Moore, J. M., & Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). Comparing learning and memory of sensical and nonsensical procedural tasks in a virtual reality environment among young adults. Poster accepted for presentation at the 2020 annual meeting of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, Washington, D.C.
  • Vasquez, M. A., Reed, C. M., Williams, L. M., Flair, J. A., Tran, N., Haygood, A. N., Barela, L. B., Gutierrez, R. M., & Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). Are ratings of everyday cognition sensitive to neurocognitive impairment among older adults? Poster accepted for presentation at the 2020 annual meeting of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, Washington, D.C.
  • Flores, E. V., Sandlin, A. M., Bennett, L. J., Reed, C. M., Glover, T. L., Flair, J. A., Sawyer, J. D., Mollenkopf, K. K., & Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). The relationship between self-reported dysexecutive symptoms and tests of executive functioning among older adults. Poster accepted for presentation at the 2020 annual meeting of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, Washington, D.C.
  • Coldiron, A. M., Sandlin, A. M., Markey, C. E., Gutierrez, R. M., Bennett, L. J., Sawyer, J. D., Smith, L. N., Moore, J. M., & Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). Comparing event-based and time-based prospective memory over short and longer delays in a virtual reality environment. Poster accepted for presentation at the 2021 Annual Conference of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, Portland, OR.
  • Vasquez, M. A., Reed, C. M., Williams, L. M., Flair, J. A., Tran, N, Haygood, A. N., Barela, L.B., Gutierrez, R. M., & Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). Are self-ratings of everyday cognition sensitive to neurocognitive impairment among older adults? Poster accepted for presentation at the 2021 Annual Conference of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, Portland, OR.
  • Sandlin, A. M., Glover, T. L., Shorter, S. S., Flair, J. A., Williams, L. M., Flores, E. V., Bennett, L. J., Moore J. H., & Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). Cognition, loneliness, and financial exploitation among older adults with neurocognitive impairment. Poster accepted for presentation at the 2021 Annual Conference of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, Portland, OR.
  • Shorter, S. S., Coldiron, A. M., Reed, C. M., Glover, T. L., Gutierrez, R. M., Rodriguez, D., Moore, J. M., Parsons, T. D., & Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). Comparison of performance on the Virtual Environment Grocery Store and the CVLT-II. Poster accepted for presentation at the 40th Annual Conference Virtual Edition (due to COVID-19) of the National Academy of Neuropsychology.
  • Flores, E. V., Gutierrez, R. M., Shorter, S., Mollenkopf K. K., Childers, L., Flair, A. J, Donnell, R. L., & Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). The relationship between visual memory and performance in virtual reality among older adults. Poster accepted for presentation at the 40th Annual Conference Virtual Edition (due to COVID-19) of the National Academy of Neuropsychology.
  • Coldiron, A. M., Smith, L. N., Helphrey, J. H., Sawyer, J. D., Flores, E. V., Glover, T. L., Lee, D. C., & Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). Comparing virtual reality and analog prospective memory performance. Poster accepted for presentation at the 40th Annual Conference Virtual Edition (due to COVID-19) of the National Academy of Neuropsychology.
  • Sawyer, J. D., Helphrey, J. H., Bennett, L. J., Donnell, R. L., Flair, A. J., Haygood, A., Markey, C. E., & Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). Utilizing virtual reality to assess the relationship between prospective memory and processing speed. Poster accepted for presentation at the 40th Annual Conference Virtual Edition (due to COVID-19) of the National Academy of Neuropsychology.
  • Glover, T. L., Flores, E. V., Williams, L. M., Shorter, S. S., Childers, L. G., Mollenkopf, K. K., Barela, L. B., Sawyer, J. D., & Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). A preliminary study of prospective memory performance and medication adherence among young adults. Poster accepted for presentation at the 40th Annual Conference Virtual Edition (due to COVID-19) of the National Academy of Neuropsychology.
  • Vasquez, M. A., Helphrey J. H., Sandlin, A.M., Bennett-Leleux, L. J., Donnell, R. L., Glover, T. L., Markey, C. E., Moore, J. M., & Barnett, M.D. (Submitted). The relationship between self-rated everyday memory and cognitive status among older adults. Poster accepted for presentation at the 40th Annual Conference Virtual Edition (due to COVID-19) of the National Academy of Neuropsychology.
  • Williams, L. M, Coldiron, A. M., Sandlin, A. M., Flores, E. V., Flair, J. A., Lee, D. C., Tran, N. & Barnett, M. D. (Accepted). A preliminary study of comfort with computers and analog tasks in relation to older adults’ performance in virtual reality. Poster accepted for presentation at the 40th Annual Conference Virtual Edition (due to COVID-19) of the National Academy of Neuropsychology.
  • Helphrey, J. H., Sawyer, J. D., Bennett, L. J., Sandlin, A. M., Smith, L. N., Flores, E. V., Parsons, T. D., & Barnett, M. D. (2020, February). A preliminary study of activity level in relation to performance on prospective memory tasks in a virtual environment. Poster presented at the International Neuropsychological Society’s 2020 annual meeting in Denver, CO.
  • Bennett, L. J., Sawyer, J. D., Coldiron, A. M., Reed, C. M., Flores, E. V., Markey, C. E., Parsons, T. D., & Barnett, M. D. (2020, February). Paces in different places: A preliminary study of the relationship between physical activity and navigation in a virtual environment. Poster presented at the International Neuropsychological Society’s 2020 annual meeting in Denver, CO.
  • Bennett, L. J., Sandlin, A. M., Reed, C. M., Donnell, R. L., Haygood, A. N., Edzards, S. M., & Barnett, M. D. (2020, February). Visually and verbally mediated trail making tests in relation to digit span. Poster presented at the International Neuropsychological Society’s 2020 annual meeting in Denver, CO.
  • Reed, C. M., Rodriguez, D., Smith, L. N., Sandlin, A. M., Sawyer, J. D., Barela, L. B., & Barnett, M. D. (2020, February). Does a modality make a difference? Visually and verbally mediated trailmaking tests in relation to a Stroop task. Poster presented at the International Neuropsychological Society’s 2020 annual meeting in Denver, CO.
  • Coldiron, A. M., Helphrey, J. H., Bennett, L. J., Smith, L. N., Donnell, R. L., Haygood, A. N., & Barnett, M. D. (2020, February). The difference a modality makes: Visually and verbally mediated trail making tests in relation to a continuous performance test. Poster presented at the International Neuropsychological Society’s 2020 annual meeting in Denver, CO.
  • Flores, E. V., Sawyer, J. D., Rodriguez, D., Bennett, L. J., Donnell, R. L., Barela, L. B., & Barnett, M. D. (2020, February). Ethnic differences in Stroop task performance among college students. Poster presented at the International Neuropsychological Society’s 2020 annual meeting in Denver, CO.
  • Sawyer, J. D., Moore, J. M., Coldiron, A. M., Sandlin, A. M., Bennett, L. J., Edzards, S. M., & Barnett, M. D. (2020, February). An experimental investigation of the impact of rapport on Stroop task performance. Poster presented at the International Neuropsychological Society’s 2020 annual meeting in Denver, CO.
  • Smith, L. N., Helphrey, J. H., Sawyer, J. D., Fierro, L. A., Mokhtari, B. K., Moore, J. M., Rodriguez, D., & Barnett, M. D. (2019, November). Ramble on: Loneliness and off-topic verbosity in older adults. Poster presented at the Gerontological Society of America’s 2019 Annual Scientific Meeting, Austin, TX.
  • Smith, L. N., Helphrey, J. H., Sawyer, J. D., Rodriguez, D., Rose III, D. W., Fierro, L. A., Moore, J. M., Parsons, T. D., & Barnett, M. D. (2019, November). Inhibition of overlearned verbal responses and quantity of speech among age cohorts. Poster presented at the National Academy of Neuropsychology’s 39th Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.
  • Helphrey, J. H., Smith, L. N., Rodriguez, D., Rose III, D. W., Sawyer, J. D., Edzards, S. M., Fierro, L. A., Moore, J. M., Parsons, T. D., & Barnett, M. D. (2019, November). Sustained attention, impulsivity, and tangentiality of speech among young adults and older adults. Poster presented at the National Academy of Neuropsychology’s 39th Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.
  • Smith, L. N., Helphrey, J. H., Moore, J. M., Sawyer, J. D., Rodriguez, D., Okoro, A. J., Coldiron, A. M., Parsons, T. D., & Barnett, M. D. (2019, November). Adapting measures of the therapeutic alliance for measuring rapport in neuropsychological testing. Poster presented at the 2019 annual conference of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, Chicago, IL.
  • Helphrey, J. H., Smith, L. N., Fierro, L. A., Sawyer, J. D., Quintana, C. P., Edzards, S. M., Jofre, D. M., Parsons, T. D., & Barnett, M. D. (2019, November). Verbal speed and set-shifting in relation to quantity and tangentiality of speech among age cohorts. Poster presented at the 2019 annual conference of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, Chicago, IL.

Contact Information

3531 S. Broadway
Tyler, Texas 75701
Phone:  (903) 630-7479