Developmental Neuroscience

Several HDFS faculty incorporate a biopsychosocial perspective to their research on developmental processes. Projects in this area have included a wide range of biomarkers including genetics, endocrinological measures (e.g. cortisol), autonomic measures (e.g. heart rate, skin conductance, respiration) and central nervous system measures (e.g. EEG/ERP, fMRI). Several HDFS courses exist to address training needs in this area ranging from providing students a foundation for understanding biological levels of analysis in human behavior to more specific and applied analysis tools needed to work extensively with data of this nature. Faculty interests include projects designed to illuminate how early developmental processes establish physiological systems that support competent development, how individual differences in psychophysiological systems moderate treatment outcome (i.e. predict who is more or less likely to benefit from intervention programs) and whether/how treatment response is mediated through lasting changes in cognitive and psychophysiological systems that support behavior. These studies contribute to our understanding of the effects of policy, prevention programs, and environmental processes on developmental outcomes at any point across the lifespan.

HDFS faculty who study Developmental Neuroscience include:

Diana Fishbein

Zachary Fisher

Lisa Gatzke-Kopp

Charles F. Geier