Biography
Dr. Tricia Merkley is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Brigham Young University. As a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist, she has substantial experience in the cognitive assessment of individuals with neurological disorders, both in clinical and research contexts. Prior to her current role, she served as a faculty neuropsychologist at Barrow Neurological Institute, where she conducted inpatient and outpatient neuropsychological assessments.
Research Interests
Research in Dr. Merkley’s lab primarily focuses on neuroimaging analysis and neuropsychological assessment to examine structural brain changes and the cognitive and behavioral effects of brain injury across the lifespan. Her work has included investigations of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in both pediatric and adult populations, recognizing that TBI can hinder both ongoing brain development and previously acquired cognitive abilities.
An emerging area of interest involves autonomic nervous system dysfunction following concussion or mild TBI, which may inform intervention strategies for individuals experiencing prolonged recovery. While sport-related concussion has received significant attention from researchers and the media, other causes—such as intimate partner violence-related brain injury (IPV-BI)—have historically been underexplored. As a result, the lab is increasingly focusing on addressing knowledge gaps in IPV-BI, to address the needs of this population.
Additional research interests include cross-cultural considerations in neuropsychological assessment and the harmonization of data across research sites.