Office Location:
528 Building 528TC Affiliations:
Faculty Expertise:
Educational Background
Ph.D. Columbia University, New York, New York
School Psychology with a Neuropsychology Focus
School Psychology
Philosophy and Psychology
Major Training in Neuropsychology
Postdoctoral Clinical Research Fellowship in Neuropsychology and Neuroscience
Kessler Foundation, West Orange, New Jersey
APA Accredited Predoctoral Internship in Clinical Neuropsychology
Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Glen Oaks, New York
Scholarly Interests
James F. Sumowski, Ph.D. investigates cognitive disability and memory rehabilitation in children and adults with neurologic conditions, with a specific focus on persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Dr. Sumowski's primary line of research examines heritable and environmental factors associated with reserve against cognitive impairment in the context of neurologic disease. For instance, Dr. Sumowski has shown that modifiable lifestyle factors such as intellectual enrichment protect against cognitive decline in persons with MS (click here for review). The next step is to translate these findings into interventions to build reserve and preserve cognitive function in the face of disease.
Selected Publications
Sumowski JF, Rocca MA, Leavitt VM, et al. Searching for the neural basis of reserve against memory decline: Intellectual enrichment linked to larger hippocampal volume in multiple sclerosis. European Journal of Neurology 2015 Epub ahead of print. Abstract
Sumowski JF, Rocca MA, Leavitt VM, et al. Brain reserve and cognitive reserve protect against cognitive decline over 4.5 years in MS. Neurology 2014; 82: 1776-1783.Abstract
Sumowski JF, Leavitt VM. Body temperature is elevated and linked to fatigue in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, even without heat exposure. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2014; 95: 1298-1302. Abstract
Sumowski JF, Coyne J, Cohen A, et al. Retrieval practice improves memory in survivors of severe traumatic brain injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2014; 95: 397-400. Abstract
Sumowski JF, Leavitt VM. Cognitive reserve in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal 2013; 19: 1122-1127.[Review Article] Full Text (PDF)
Sumowski JF, Leavitt VM, Cohen A, et al. Retrieval practice is a robust memory aid for memory-impaired patients with MS. Multiple Sclerosis Journal 2013; 19: 1943-1946. Abstract
Sumowski JF, Wylie GR, Leavitt VM, et al. Default network activity is a sensitive and specific biomarker of memory in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal 2013; 19: 199-208. Abstract
Sumowski JF, Chiaravalloti N, Erlanger D, et al. L-amphetamine improves memory in MS patients with objective memory impairment. Multiple Sclerosis Journal 2011; 17: 1141-1145. Abstract
Sumowski JF, Wylie GR, Chiaravalloti N, et al. Intellectual enrichment lessens the effect of brain atrophy on learning and memory in multiple sclerosis. Neurology 2010; 74: 1942-1945. Full Text (PDF)
