March 31: Nathan Fox, "Are There Sensitive Periods for the Effects of Early Experience on Cognitive and Social Competence? Lessons from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project"

Are There Sensitive Periods for the Effects of Early Experience on Cognitive and Social Competence? Lessons from the Bucharest Early Intervention Project

Dr. Nathan Fox, University of Maryland
Director of the Child Development Lab in the Dept. of Human Development

Distinguished University Professor

Interim Chair, Dept. of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology

Abstract

Developmental psychologists and educators assume that early experiences shape the brain and neural circuitry for emerging cognitive and social behaviors over the first years of life. Most of the evidence for these assumptions is based on rodent and non human primate animal research. Far less has been published on the effects of early experience that is not correlational in nature. The Bucharest Early Intervention Project (BEIP) is the first randomized trial of a family intervention for children who experienced significant psychosocial neglect early in their lives. A group of infants living in institutions in Romania were recruited and randomized to be taken out of the institution and placed into family/foster care homes or to remain in the institution. Follow up of these children occurred at 42 and 54 months of age and at 8 years of age. Multiple domains, including cognitive, socio-emotional, psychiatric, and brain imaging were assessed at each age. Three questions are posed in this study and this talk: first, are there lasting effects of early psychosocial deprivation as children develop over the school years. Second, is intervention successful in ameliorating deficits as a result of institutionalization. And third, are there sensitive periods in delivering the intervention that explain both success and failure to improve cognitive and socio-emotional behavior.

This talk will be held in 3105 Tolman Hall, 12:00-1:30pm.

March 17: Sally Ozonoff, "Advances in Early Detection Science: Finding Infant Markers of Autism"

Advances in Early Detection Science: Finding Infant Markers of Autism

Sally Oznoff
Endowed Professor and Vice Chair for Research
Department of Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences
M.I.N.D. Institute
Davis Medical Center

Abstract:
This talk will focus on early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in infants and young toddlers, summarizing existing research and describing new results from an ongoing prospective study. Developmental challenges beyond ASD that may occur in siblings will also be discussed. The talk will conclude with recurrence risk of ASD in families who already have an affected child and implications for screening and working with families.

Monday, March 17 in 3105 Tolman Hall, 12:00-1:30pm.

March 10: Kris Madsen, "Curbing Childhood Obesity: A Systems Approach"

Kristine A. Madsen, MD, MPH is faculty member in the School of Public Health, in the Division of Community Health and Child Development, who is an expert in the development and treatment of pediatric obesity. She is a pediatrician and research scientist with expertise in the design and evaluation of interventions related to childhood obesity and health disparities in youth. She has collaborated with multiple Departments of Public Health, school districts, healthcare organizations, and other community agencies to design interventions to prevent and treat childhood obesity. Her current work includes: an NIH-funded randomized trial looking at school-based body-mass index screening and reporting; a longitudinal study of the impact of Kaiser's new Thriving Schools initiative; a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded project examining the impact of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Healthy Schools Program; and a partnership with Contra Costa Health Services to disseminate their evidence-based Familias Activas y Saludables program.

Curbing Childhood Obesity: A Systems Approach

Abstract: Childhood obesity remains the number one pediatric public health problem in the US, and disparities by race/ethnicity and income are increasing. Emerging evidence suggests that cross-system integration and collaboration will be critical to address the problem of obesity. Dr. Madsen will discuss several research projects aimed at changing systems and environments to reduce obesity, including health care, schools, neighbourhoods and media.

This talk will be held in 3105 Tolman on Monday, March 10 from 12:00-1:30pm.

Feb. 24: Sytske Besemer, "Children of criminal and incarcerated parents: do they commit more crime?"

Children of criminal and incarcerated parents: do they commit more crime?

Sytske Besemer, IHD Post-Doctoral Scholar & Rubicon Fellow

In my book ‘Intergenerational transmission of criminal and violent behaviour’ I review evidence for different mechanisms that might explain why children with criminal parents have a higher risk of committing crime. This work raises some compelling developmental questions: What exactly happens when children grow up in a criminogenic environment – how exactly does this impact their development? Is there some kind of ‘criminal’ social learning taking place? Does a disadvantaged environment impact their development in specific ways? What is the impact of criminal justice sanctions on these children’s development?
During my talk I will discuss some of these questions and the possible mechanisms and will focus on one issue that has emerged as particularly salient: parental incarceration. Specifically, I will discuss our research on whether it matters in which country you grow up and where your parents have been incarcerated to examine the question: do more punitive countries perhaps enhance the intergenerational transmission of crime? This is a vital issue, especially in the US, where 1% of the population is currently incarcerated.
Here is a link to Sytske's book:Intergenerational transmission of criminal and violent behaviour

This talk will be held in 3105 Tolman on Monday, Feb. 24 from 12:00-1:30pm.

Institute of Human Development & Change, Plasticity and Development Seminar, Spring 2014

2/24 Sytske Besemer
Post-doctoral scholar, UC Berkeley & Rubicon Fellow

3/3 Paul Harris
Victor S. Thomas Professor of Education, Harvard
CANCELLED

3/10 Kris Madsen
Assistant Professor, UCB-UCSF Joint Medical Program & Public Health Nutrition

3/17 Sally Ozonoff
Professor-in-Residence & Vice Chair for Research, UC Davis

3/31 Nathan Fox
Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland

4/7 Douglas P. Jutte
Associate Director, UCB-UCSF Joint Medical Program

4/14 Audun Dahl
Department of Psychology, UC Berkeley

4/28 Jane Hu
Department of Psychology, UC Berkeley

All talks will be held in 3105 Tolman Hall, 12:00-1:30pm

Dec. 2: Daniel Pine, "Creating a Developmental Clinical Neuroscience: Lessons from Pediatric Anxiety"

Creating a Developmental Clinical Neuroscience: Lessons from Pediatric Anxiety

Daniel S. Pine, MD
Chief, Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience National Institute of Mental Health

Daniel Pine is one of the world’s leading experts on emotional disorders in youth. This expertise is reflected in more than 300 peer-reviewed papers—including major contributions to understanding the epidemiology, diagnosis, biology, and treatment of anxiety and mood disorders in children and adolescents. His lab is engaged in a series of pioneering studies addressing questions about the neural systems involved in fear and threat processes in ways that are relevant to the risk, development, and treatment of anxiety disorders. Among his many honors he was recently elected to the prestigious Institute of Medicine in the National Academy of Sciences. In his talk at IHD (noon on December 2) Pine will address a series of issues about the emerging field of developmental clinical neuroscience, using his work on pediatric anxiety disorders as an example.

Monday, December 2, 12:00-1:30pm in 3105 Tolman Hall

November 25: Ndola Prata, "Adolescent reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa: collaborative strategies to improve health outcomes"

Please join us Monday November 25th, 12:00-1:30pm in 3105 Tolman Hall for a special presentation by Ndola Prata providing a global perspective on high-impact issues in adolescence. This talk is part of our emerging UC Center for the Developing Adolescent (within IHD).
The UC Center on the Developing Adolescent is an interdisciplinary research and policy center founded on the belief that adolescence represents a maturational period of great vulnerabilities and opportunities—with enormous long-term impact on health, education, well-being, and economic success. The mission of our Center is twofold. First, to use integrative, interdisciplinary approaches to advance understanding of the unique opportunities for early intervention, prevention, and health promotion during this crucial period of adolescent brain development; and second, to pursue innovative approaches to help translate this rapidly emerging knowledge into policies that improve the lives of youth (locally and globally).

This presentation by Dr. Prata will describe a global perspective focusing on opportunities (and vulnerabilities) for adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa (see details below).

Adolescent reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa: collaborative strategies to improve health outcomes

Ndola Prata, MD, MSc: is the Director of the Bixby Center for Population, Health & Sustainability. A physician and medical demographer originally from Angola, Dr Prata is an Associate Professor in Residence in Maternal and Child Health and holds the Fred H. Bixby Endowed Chair in Population and Family Planning in the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley.

It is estimated that more than a third of the total population in sub-Saharan Africa is aged 10-24. Ten countries with the youngest population in the world are found in SSA—one of these is Ethiopia. Adolescents and young adults in the region are the most vulnerable groups and present the poorest reproductive health indicators. The Bixby Center at UCB has been working collaboratively in the region addressing some of the key challenges and opportunities in adolescent reproductive health policies and programs. Examples of collaborative strategies in Nigeria, Angola and Ethiopia highlight the Centers’ involvement in designing interventions for adolescents aimed at improving individual reproductive health outcomes tied to structural and social factors, as well as providing evidence for policy change.