DNLab Research Program

We have a multidisciplinary translational research program with a strong focus on typical and atypical information processing in children and youth.

• We study brain network/dynamics underlying higher cognitive functions and their critical subroutines (i.e., working memory, attention, cognitive control) from early childhood to emerging adulthood using EEG based metrics, neurocognitive tests and questionnaires.
• In addition, we aim to understand the effects of individual differences (e.g., uncertainty tolerance, temperament, affect, sensory processing) on higher cognitive functions and their brain dynamics.
• Our research has the potential to reveal the brain mechanisms that different populations of children use to process information. A better understanding of underlying mechanisms, especially in cases where they are less adaptive (e.g. Anxiety, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Reading Disabilities), can help better target intervention to the child’s specific needs.
• We collaborate with local mental health agencies and schools to bring our research where it will have the greatest impact: informing diagnoses, early identification of at-risk children, and the creation of more targeted assessments and interventions.
• Using behavioural measures, such as eye-tracking, we explore how infants and young children begin to make sense of information in their world. We explore early cognitive development with a focus on speech and language.

We believe in equal opportunity and strongly support student diversity in our lab and research.