Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Dr. Hakun is the director of the Cognitive and Mobile Phenotyping Neurolaboratory at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Dr. Hakun's research is focused on the cognitive neuroscience of aging, particularly cognitive and brain health over the adult lifespan.
He approaches this work through a diverse set of research methods, including:
- multi-modal MRI-based brain imaging (fMRI, diffusion, and structural imaging)
- ecological momentary assessments
- ambulatory cognitive assessments
- passive sensing technology (activity monitors and other wearables)
- intensive longitudinal designs
An overarching aim of Dr. Hakun's work is to link signatures of healthy brain aging to patterns of cognition and behavior as they unfold over the course of daily life. This aim is accomplished by combining multi-modal MRI-based brain imaging with intensive longitudinal studies of cognition and behavior via mobile methods (EMA, AmbCog, wearables).
A primary aim of Dr. Hakun's work is to reveal cognitive and behavioral processes involved in maintaining cognitive and brain health over the adult lifespan. This work involves mobile, intensive measurement studies of cognitive control, working memory and goal-directed behavior and the psychological antecedents of participation in healthy behaviors. This line focuses on understanding how short-term variation in control of thoughts and behavior affects pursuit of long-term goals (i.e., self-regulation) and how these short-timescale processes support long-term cognitive and brain health.
A second line focuses on interactions between participation in healthy behaviors and cognitive health. Using ambulatory data collection, this work focuses on associations between participation in healthy behaviors and cognition over the course of daily life. A major goal of this line is to reveal novel aspects of behavior change processes, under naturalistic circumstances.
Dr. Hakun is also centrally involved with the team at Penn State that is working to develop the Mobile Monitoring of Cognitive Change (M2C2) component of the forthcoming NIH Mobile Toolbox.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Anatomy and Neurobiology, Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Kentucky
2013 → 2015
MA, Michigan State University
2008 → 2013
PhD, Michigan State University
2008 → 2013
MSW, Rutgers University
2002 → 2004
BA, Rowan University
1998 → 2002
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 4 Finished
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Mechanisms of Adherence to Light Intensity Physical Activity to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
Hakun, J. G. (PI)
9/1/23 → 5/31/24
Project: Research project
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Mechanisms of Adherence to Light Intensity Physical Activity to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
Hakun, J. G. (PI)
9/30/22 → 8/31/23
Project: Research project
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Self-regulation of Health Promotion: the Roles of Momentary Variability in Working Memory Capacity and Neurocognitive Aging
Hakun, J. G. (PI)
9/1/19 → 5/31/22
Project: Research project
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Self-regulation of Health Promotion: the Roles of Momentary Variability in Working Memory Capacity and Neurocognitive Aging
Hakun, J. G. (PI)
9/15/17 → 8/31/19
Project: Research project
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Adherence to Physical Activity Recommendations among Stroke Survivors in the United States
Vemuri, A. K., Hejazian, S. S., Sadr, A. V., Zhou, S., Decker, K., Hakun, J., Sciamanna, C., Abedi, V. & Zand, R., Jan 1 2025, In: Stroke. 56, 1, p. 113-121 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Characteristics of discrimination and ambulatory cognitive performance among older Black and White adults
Harrington, E. E., Gamaldo, A. A., Sliwinski, M. J., Hakun, J. G., Buxton, O. M., Katz, M. J., Derby, C. A., Foor, K., Engeland, C. G. & Graham-Engeland, J. E., Mar 2025, In: Current Psychology. 44, 6, p. 4268-4281 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Cognitive Health Benefits of Everyday Physical Activity in a Diverse Sample of Middle-Aged Adults
Hakun, J. G., Benson, L., Qiu, T., Elbich, D. B., Katz, M., Shaw, P. A., Sliwinski, M. J. & Mossavar-Rahmani, Y., Jan 1 2025, In: Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 59, 1, kaae059.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Scopus citations -
Documenting Compliance and Symptom Reactivity for Ambulatory Assessment Methodology Following Concussion in Adolescents and Young Adults: Feasibility of the Mobile Neurocognitive Health (MNCH) Project
Elbin, R. J., Durfee, K. J., Womble, M. N., Jennings, S., Fedor, S., Dollar, C. M., Felt, J. M., Elbich, D. B. & Hakun, J. G., Jan 1 2025, In: Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 40, 1, p. E87-E95Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Neural effects of memory training to reduce false memories in older adults: Univariate and multivariate analyses
Turney, I. C., Steinkrauss, A. C., Wagner, R. L., Chamberlain, J. D., West, J. T., Hakun, J. G., Ross, L. A., Kirchhoff, B. A. & Dennis, N. A., Mar 2025, In: Neurobiology of Aging. 147, p. 187-202 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review