Biological Bases of Behavior: Genetics, Hormones, Brain Imaging, and Psychophysiology

My current research focuses on identifying individual differences in affective developmental trajectories, specifically the mechanisms that underlie these individual differences. These mechanisms are being uncovered through the use of several complementary methodologies. My studies emphasize (1) multi-method assessment of affective behavior, (2) temperament, (3) the role of context, (4) physiological correlates, (5) neural circuitry, and (6) risk factors for development of internalizing disorders. The work in my lab will provide training in both the biological bases area and the emotion, temperament, and adjustment area.

My central research questions relate to understanding the mechanisms of emotional development with respect to developing temperament and personality. Specifically, I am interested in addressing questions about whether certain affective styles, related to fear regulation or dysregulation, will serve as protective factors or as diatheses for children at risk for mood disorders. The physiological measures we use to address these questions include cortisol samples and heart rate reactivity. We are also looking to expand our measures to include EEG and ERP.

Work in Jenae Neiderhiser's lab centers around understanding how genes and environment work together to influence development. She is currently leading four different research studies focused on addressing gene-environment interplay. The Nonshared Environment in Adolescent Development (NEAD) project is a study of twins and siblings and their parents who have followed longitudinally from when the children were (on average) in middle adolescence through to early adulthood. The Twin/Offspring Study in Sweden (TOSS) compliments the NEAD project by studying twins who are parents of adolescents. The Early Growth and Development Study (EGDS) is a prospective, longitudinal adoption study that follows adopted children, adoptive parents and birth parents from when the child is 6 months of age through to middle childhood. These studies include extensive assessment of family relationships – including videotaped observations – normative development, psychopathology – including affective disorders, externalizing and drug use and abuse – and many other constructs. DNA has also been collected from all participating family members for each of these studies.