Project Summary Long-Term Objectives: The overarching goal of the proposed project is to leverage electrophysiological (EEG) recordings and computational modeling to identify variations in the episodic memory specificity among young and older adults. This will help clarify the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying age-related declines in memory specificity. The applicant’s main career objective is to develop a program of research integrating behavioral, neuroscientific, and computational modeling techniques to understand age-related memory changes. Specific Aims: The proposed project aims to (1) identify EEG correlates of variations in episodic memory specificity within and across non-cognitively impaired young and older adults, (2) leverage computational modeling at the individual-subject level to identify cognitive processes accounting for these variations, and (3) link computational model parameters with EEG correlates of memory specificity to deepen our understanding of the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying age-related declines and individual variations in the represen- tational quality of episodic memory. To complete the proposed project, the applicant will receive extensive mentored training in scalp EEG analyses and computational modeling. Method: We will collect scalp EEG recordings across multiple experimental sessions as non-cognitively im- paired young and older adult participants completely mnemonic similarity recognition tasks. Using machine learning classifiers, we will reduce the highly-dimensional neural data into single predictor variables that we will relate to participants’ recognition performance to identify EEG correlates of variations in memory specificity within and across individuals. We will fit a computational model of memory at the individual-subject level to identify cognitive processes underlying variations in recognition performance and associated mnemonic rep- resentations. Linking the EEG correlates with our computational model parameters will enable us to identify neurocognitive processes of age-related declines and individual variations in episodic memory specificity. Significance: The outcomes of this project will provide novel insights into neurocognitive mechanisms that underlie age-related declines and individual variations in the quality of episodic memories. This can pave the way for future applications seeking non-invasive methods to identify individuals at risk for progressing to neurocognitive disease states and in targeting interventions to combat or prevent memory loss.