Effects of Early Experience on Development
One major line of research has focused on identifying the neurobiological and behavioral consequences of early adversity. This work has documented increased rates of psychopathology following early adverse experiences, but also potential precursors of psychopathology that help to track what changes in response to early adversity that may mediate increased risk for negative health outcomes.
Neurocognitive Effects of Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome
Given the current opioid epidemic, the increasing rates of opioid usage among pregnant women, and the lack of information on the long-term development of children exposed to substances in utero, the SEA Lab, in collaboration with Dr. Autumn Kujawa's lab will examine neural and behavioral indicators of executive functioning and behavior in preschool-aged children with and without neonatal opioid exposure.
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Mitigation of Risks from Early Adversity via Intervention
A second and related line of research has focused on examining interventions that prevent adversity or mitigate the impact of early adversity. This work includes interventions following abuse and neglect as well as guided practice for caregiving sensitivity in young adults. Dr. Humphreys is a Co-Investigator on the Bucharest Early Intervention Project.
Trajectories of Emotional Reactivity Across Pregnancy
There is a gap in the literature on longitudinal changes in neurobiological functioning across pregnancy, particularly with regard to brain function and emotional reactivity. The goal of this study, in collaboration with Dr. Autumn Kujawa's lab, is to assess neural (EEG/ERP), physiological (HRV), and behavioral responses to rewarding and emotionally salient stimuli across pregnancy. Understanding trajectories of change in these processes across the peripartum period has the potential to improve prediction of postpartum depression risk.
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Individual Differences in Transition to Parenthood
A third line of work follows women and their partners in the transition to parenthood. This project aims to understand how parents prepare for changes in their lives and how these changes manifest in different experiences for their children. We plan to follow this work by providing interventions for women during the transition to parenthood.
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Thank you to the funders of this research!
