Sackler Institute _{for Developmental Psychobiology}

Current Research

Development of Neural mechanisms and structures underlying selective attention. Brain changes during acquisition of high level skills.

My major research interest is in understanding the development of executive control in children from age 2 to 5. Imaging data suggest that areas along the frontal midline are critical for regulation of both emotional and cognitive performance (Posner & Raichle, 1994; Posner & Rothbart, 1998) We are undertaking studies of children at these ages to understand this form of self regulation at both an anatomical and a functional level. Training studies will seek to improve this form of self regulation. We also hope to understand how this form of attention influence in acquisition of high level skills involved in number (Temple & Posner, 1998) and reading (Posner & Pavese, 1998; Posner & Abdullaev, in press).