Amanda Tarullo

Developmental Science Program Director
Director: Brain and Early Experiences Laboratory

My research focuses on the effects of early experiences on the neural and behavioral development of infants and young children. In particular, I examine the ways in which early life stress shapes the developing brain as well as the neurodevelopmental mechanisms that link early life stress to child outcomes. Using electroencephalogram (EEG) measures, I identify patterns of infant brain activity that predict socio-emotional and cognitive functioning in early childhood. I study both typically developing and at-risk populations in order to explore both normative and atypical neurodevelopmental processes. One aim of this research is to understand why some children who experience early life stress are resilient and fare quite well, whereas others have enduring developmental problems.