Members

Born in Medellín, Colombia, Dr. Garcia-Barrera is a neuropsychologist and Professor of Psychology at the University of Victoria (BC, Canada), where he founded the CORTEX Lab in 2008, a leading research facility focused on the neural and behavioral foundations of executive functioning. His research examines how cognitive processes are influenced by life experiences, from positive factors like sports participation and leadership roles to negative impacts such as brain injury and their intersections with mental health and addiction.

He is currently serving as Associate Dean Research & Graduate Studies for the Faculty of Social Sciences at UVic. Dr. Garcia-Barrera is also a Registered Psychologist in BC and Associate Editor of the APA journal Psychological Assessment. Recognized for his contributions to neuropsychology and education, he was honored as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians in 2022 by the ILAC Education Group in Toronto—an award personally acknowledged by the Prime Minister of Canada.