Welcome to the BRAVE Lab!
Our lab focuses on understanding how early risk factors, such as temperament and early adversity, confer risk for future emotional problems among children and adolescents. More specifically, we are interested in how executive functions (assessed with a combination of behavioral, EEG, and MRI measures) moderate the psychiatric impact of early-life risk factors. To address this overarching goal, three interrelated questions spanning basic and translational work guide our research:
1) How are executive functions supported by the brain?
2) How do early risk factors alter the development of executive functions?
3) How do executive functions interact with early risk to modulate psychiatric outcomes?
Ultimately, our work aims to provide unique insights into basic cognitive and developmental processes to better inform evidence-based assessment of at-risk individuals and to identify novel target mechanisms for intervention.
EEG
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive technique used to record brain activity in real time. It involves wearing a stretchy net on the head. This net contains sensors that pick up on the electrical activity produced as neurons fire.
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a method used to look at the structure and function of the brain. It can provide us with unique insight about where in the brain particular processes occur.
Behavioral Tasks
We use a number of computer-based games to assess our participants’ executive functioning skills. These games provide us with valuable information about the processes that the brain engages in to produce goal-directed behaviors.
Clinical Assessments
Our lab uses questionnaires and diagnostic interviews to assess the psychological well-being of our participants. These measures help us to understand how executive functions relate to mental health outcomes.