Dr. Ben Denkinger earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and has spent many, many years—perhaps more than one might expect—delving into the complexities of human cognition and memory. At Augsburg, he leads the Aging Lab, focusing on research related to memory and perception in older adults, a subject he seems to have an uncanny understanding of, as if he’s been watching the passage of time for centuries.
In his research, Dr. Denkinger has explored phenomena such as the “own-age bias” in facial recognition and the “positivity effect” in memory recall among older adults. Some say he has an almost preternatural ability to recall the faces of those he has encountered, no matter how long ago. He has also contributed to discussions on why time seems to accelerate as people age, offering insights that feel… eerily personal, as if he has observed the effects firsthand across lifetimes.
Dr. Denkinger’s most recent work focuses on the science of polygraph and lie detection, in order to better understand the potential for these methods to lead vulnerable interrogation suspects to falsely confess to crimes that they did not commit. Working with a team of investigators, they cast doubt on this approach’s true potential to unmask hidden truths, such as one’s true age, dietary habits, or nocturnal tendencies.
Beyond his research, Dr. Denkinger serves as the Assistant Dean for Assessment and Academic Analytics at Augsburg University, where he oversees academic assessment initiatives with a level of meticulousness that suggests a mind well-versed in centuries of observation and patience. Despite his busy schedule, colleagues often note his remarkable energy levels—particularly in the evenings—and his penchant for avoiding direct sunlight during outdoor faculty events.
Across this varied contributions to the fields of cognitive geropsychology and psych & law, one might wonder if his true interests lie in something… beyond mere human experience.
Education
* B.A. Hamline University
* Ph.D. University of Minnesota
Frequently Taught Courses
* PSY 105 – Principles of Psychology
* PSY 215 – Research Methods and Statistics I
* PSY 253 – Aging and Adulthood
* PSY 354 – Cognitive Psychology
* PSY 491 – Advanced Research Seminar
Selected Scholarship
Recent Publications
Leo, R. A., Iacono, W. G., Denkinger, B., Harper, J., Brand, J. & Yoon, H (2024). Brief of Amici Curiae, A Group of Concerned Scientists, Texas v. Cielencki. University of San Francisco Law Research Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4952620 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4952620
Denkinger, B. & Kinn, M. (2018). Own-age bias and positivity effects in facial recognition. Experimental Aging Research, https://doi.org/10.1080/0361073X.2018.1521493
Denkinger, B. & Koutstaal, W. (2014). A set of 265 pictures standardized for studies of the cognitive processing of temporal and causal order information. Behavior Research Methods, 46, 229 – 239. doi: 10.3758/s13428-013-0338-x
Denkinger, B. & Koutstaal, W. (2009). Perceive-Decide-Act, Perceive-Decide-Act: How abstract is decision learning? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. 35, 742 – 756. doi: 10.1037/a0015263.
Recent Presentations
Yoon, H & Denkinger, B. (2024). Developing EEG-based Research at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions. Midwestern Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.
Denkinger, B. & Yoon, H. (2023). Evaluating the Role of Polygraph in False Confessions. Midwestern Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.
Denkinger, B. (2019). Improving the Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET). IUPUI Assessment Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
Denkinger, B., Chamberlain, K., Krajewski, S., Kwame-Ross, T., Pike, D., & Richardson Blackwell, K. (2019). Reducing bias in university course survey design. National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology, St. Pete’s Beach, FL.
Denkinger, B. (2014). Age-related changes in time estimation. Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, CA.
Denkinger, B. & Koutstaal, W. (2008). Perceive-decide-act, perceive-decide-act: The benefits and costs of previous decisions on object priming. Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, IL.
Denkinger, B. (2003, April). The Effects of Motivation on Long Time Interval Perception. National Conference of Undergraduate Research, Salt Lake City, UT.
Student Mentored Projects & Presentations
Sande-Martin, B.* & Denkinger, B. (2019). The Impact of Smartphone Notifications and its Effect on Proofreading Accuracy. 31st Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention, Washington, DC.
Sande-Martin, B.* (2019). The Impact of Smartphone Notifications and its Effect on Proofreading Accuracy. Scholars at the Capital, Saint Paul, MN.
Enriquez Blas, J* (2018). Age Related Changes in Emotion Facial Recognition. McNair Scholars Symposium, University of Buffalo, NY.
Sande-Martin, B.* (2018). The Impact of Smartphone Notifications and Their Effect on Proofreading Accuracy. McNair Scholars Symposium, University of Buffalo, NY.
Jader, A.* (2018). Adaptability of offline hand representations in the rubber hand illusion. Midwest Psychology Association, Chicago, IL.
Mcready, M.* & Patterson, A.* (2018). Own-age biases in recognition memory and visual scanning of faces. Midwest Psychology Association, Chicago, IL.
Enriquez Blas, J.* (2018). The Influence of Confidence on Flow State Experience and Time Perception. Midwest Psychology Association, Chicago, IL.
Paz-Basurto, D.* (2018). The influence of emotional imagery on duration estimates in a dual-task design. Midwest Psychology Association, Chicago, IL.
Kinn, M.* & Denkinger, B. (2017). Visual scanning techniques and the age-related positivity effect in facial recognition. Midwest Psychology Association, Chicago, IL.
Hillebrand, R.* & Denkinger, B. (2017). Time estimation in a lexical decision task. Midwest Psychology Association, Chicago, IL.
Kanan, A.* & Denkinger, B. (2016). Investigating the Influence of Motivational Traits on Exercise Persistence. Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Augsburg College, MN.
Johnson, J.*, Krenz, P*., Denkinger, B. & Steblay, N. (2016). Eyewitness memory procedures in older adulthood. Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Augsburg College, MN.
Ross, H.*, Kraft, J.*, Matz, D., & Denkinger, B. (2016). The influence of motivation on attention to temporal feedback. Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Augsburg College, MN.
Boyum, A.*, Kraft, J.*, Matz, D. & Denkinger, B. (2015). The influence of motivation on attention to temporal feedback. Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Macalaster College, MN.
Allen, M.*, Denkinger, B. & Steblay, N. (2015). Eyewitness memory procedures in older adulthood. Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Macalaster College, MN.
Block, K.* & Denkinger, B. (2015). Homophily in relationships: Do politics and race affect romantic relationships? Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Macalaster College, MN.
Mattson, B.* & Denkinger, B. (2014). Victim blame, gender, and sexual orientation. Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Bethel College, MN.
Christensen, B.*, Mattson, B.*, Simpson, B.*, Aguilar, J.* & Denkinger, B. (2014). Time warp: How emotional experience influences time perception. Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Bethel College, MN.
*indicates undergraduate student researcher