Principle Investigator
Hannah White, Ph.D.
I am an Assistant Professor in the behavioral Neuroscience area of the Psychological Sciences Department at the University of Missouri, St. Louis.
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I study cognitive and social development using an interdisciplinary approach which incorporates behavioral, psychological, and survey methodologies. My major focus is in infancy, but I take a lifespan approach to development and have worked with children and adults as well.
Current Students
Theresa Moore
Semesters in lab: Spring 2021, Fall 2021
Research Interests: I am interested in studying the effects of childhood and adolescent trauma on brain biology and physiology. I am also interested in researching how chronic trauma during development effects memory and learning throughout the lifespan.
Independent Project: My independent project centered around the effects of chronic stress levels on infant memory at 3-months-old. The results of the study indicated no significant effect of cortisol on infant visual recognition memory. Further tests with more extensive memory testing protocol should be implemented in order to confirm these results. Enhanced understanding of how early exposure to stress impacts infant cognitive development will be critical for determining the conditions necessary in order to ensure optimal brain growth for learning, memory and other higher-order functioning.
Goals After Lab: After earning my B.S. in psychology at UMSL in Fall of 2021, I plan on attending the Behavioral Neuroscience PhD program at UMSL. I am also choreographing future volunteer hours with the Child Advocacy Centers of Greater St. Louis, in order to further my understanding of child trauma services. I intend to use the knowledge that I gain through research and experience to strengthen existing, and develop additional, programs to assist children and their families.
Vanessa Newell
Semesters in Lab: Spring 2021-Fall 2021
Research Interests: My research interests include the psychobiology of stress, parent-child interactions, in particular father-child dyads, and general developmental psychology topics. I am interested in approaching scientific research from a biopsychosocial perspective by examining biological measurements along with self-report and ecological assessments.
Independent Project: My independent project examined whether adherence to household routines would moderate the relationship between number of caregivers and cortisol levels in a sample of 3.5-month-old infants. It was expected that adherence to family routines would act as a protective factor against adverse effects resulting from home instability in the form of the number of caregivers and elevated cortisol levels. Contrary to hypothesis, adherence to household routines does not moderate the relationship between number of caregivers and cortisol levels in infants. Instead, increased number of caregivers may be a protective factor against infant stress.
Goals for After Lab: After departing from Lifespan Development Lab, I hope to pursue a PhD in Development Psychology or a related field. Mainly researching the interplay of biological, behavioral, and socio-environmental factors contributing to developmental psychopathology.