Research Interests
My research area is comparative psychology, specifically the study of learning and memory across species, including nonhuman primates. One of my primary research interests is in designing comparative studies to examine episodic memory in nonhuman primates, with a specific emphasis on the integration of multiple components in memory (i.e., what, where, and when information). I also have interests in a parallel line of research examining how animals represent spatial information in memory, specifically comparing the use of egocentric and allocentric memory processes, and the development of object permanence as it relates to spatial memory.
Educational Background
M.A., Psychology, Georgia State University, 2007 Thesis: Memory for "What", "Where", and "When" Information by Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and adult humans.
B.A., Psychology, Florida International University, 2004
Journal Publications
Hoffman, M.L., Beran. M.J., & Washburn, D.A. (in press). Memory for "what", "where", and "when" information in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes.
Hoffman, M.L. & Beran. M.J. (2007). Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) remember the location of a hidden food item after altering their orientation to a spatial array. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 120, 389-393.
Schwartz, B.L., Hoffman, M.L., & Evans, S. (2005). Episodic-like memory in a gorilla: A review and new findings. Learning and Motvation: Special Issue: Cognitive Time Travel in People and Animals, 36, 226-244.
Schwartz, B.L., Meissner, C.M., Hoffman, M.L., Evans, S, & Frazier, L.D. (2004). Event memory and isinformation effects in a gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Animal Cognition, 7, 93-100.
Conference Presentations
Hoffman, M.L. (2008). Memory for What, Where, and When Information in Rhesus Monkeys. Invited talk to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA. (Download PPT)
Hoffman, M.L., Beran, M.J., & Washburn, D.A. (2008). What-Where-When Memory in Rhesus Monkeys: Presenting Sequential Events to Examine the Role of Relative Familiarity. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Society of Philosophy and Psychology, New Orleans, LA.
Menzel, C.R.,Menzel, E.W., Kelley, J.W., Chan, B., Hoffman, M.L., & Hunsberger, S.A. (2008). Selection of Multi- destination Foraging Routes by Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Society of Philosophy Philosophy and Psychology, New Orleans, LA.
Hoffman, M.L., Beran, M.J., & Washburn, D.A. (2007). Working memory for what-where-when information in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Poster presented at the 14th Annual International Conference on Comparative Cognition, Melbourne, FL.
Hoffman, M.L. & Beran, M.J., Washburn, D.A. (2007). Working memory for what-where-when information in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Society of Philosophy and Psychology, Atlanta, GA.
Menzel, C.R., Kelley, J.W., Chan, B., Hoffman, M.L., Hunsburger, S.A. & Meznel, E.W. (2007). Selection of multi-destination routes by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Primatologists, Winston-Salem, NC.
Menzel, C.R., Kelley, J.W., Hunsberger, S.A., Chan, B., Hoffman, M.L., Menzel, E.W. Jr. (2007). A chimpanzee as a traveling salesman’s director. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Society of Philosophy and Psychology, Atlanta, GA.
Hoffman, M.L. & Beran, M.J. (2006). Chimpanzees remember food locations after changing their orientation. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA.
Hoffman, M.L., Beran, M.J., &
Washburn, D.A. (2006). Working memory for “what” and “where” information
in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Paper presented at the annual
meeting of the Southern Society of Philosophy and Psychology, Charleston, S.C.
Schwartz, B.L., Hoffman, M.L., Allen, M., Lane, J.D., & Cherry, H. (2005). Working memory in lar gibbons (Hylobagtes lar). Presented at the 12th Annual International Conference on Comparative Cognition, Melbourne, FL.
Hoffman, M.L., Gulledge, J., Kane, M.P., & Washburn, D.A. (2005). Visuospatial working memory span: A comparative assessment. Presented at the 87th Annual Meeting of the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology, Durham, NC.
Schwartz, B.L., Hoffman, M.L., Tessier, G.P. (2004). Delayed matching-to-sample in golden-lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia). Presented at the 11th Annual International Conference on Comparative Cognition, Melbourne. FL.
Hoffman, M.L. & Schwartz, B.L. (2004). Communication of where an event occurred by a gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Poster presented at the 11th Annual International Conference on Comparative Cognition, Melbourne, FL.
Schwartz, B.L., Meissner, C.A., Hoffman, M.L., Evans, S., & Frazier, L.D. (2003). Trial-unique learning and episodic-like memory in gorillas. Presented at the 10th Annual International Conference on Comparative Cognition, Melbourne, FL.