Current Projects
GIVING TO OTHERS AND NEURAL DEVELOPMENT DURING ADOLESCENCE
Funding: National Science Foundation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
A study of the changes in prosocial behavior during adolescence and the role played by developments in the reward, mentalizing, and cognitive control networks. The implications of social experience, perspective-taking, empathy, and values for prosocial behavior and brain developments are also examined. Gender and ethnic variations are explored. This project is being conducted in collaboration with Naomi Eisenberger and Adriana Galván of UCLA, and Eveline Crone of Leiden University, The Netherlands, and Eva Telzer of University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
REST: Research on Improving Sleep Techniques
Funding: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
A randomized controlled trial of the impact of sleep education and mindfulness awareness practices on the sleep of first year college students. This project is being done in collaboration with Julienne E. Bower, Michael I. Irwin, and Steve W. Cole.
UCLA STUDY OF FAMILY HEALTH
Funding: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
A longitudinal study designed to examine the impact of daily experience on the health and health risk of adolescents from Asian, Latin American, and European backgrounds as they make the transition to adulthood. Extensive information is collected on daily activities, stress, interpersonal relationships and their associations with biological markers of health such as cortisol, inflammation, and sleep. This project is being conducted in collaboration with Teresa E. Seeman, Steve W. Cole, Michael R. Irwin, and Julienne E. Bower of UCLA, David M. Almeida of The Pennsylvania State University, and Ronald E. Dahl of the University of California, Berkeley.
ADOLESCENT DAILY LIFE AND HEALTH
Funding: Hope Lab & UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute
A intensive study of the impact of daily life activities on the health and psychological well being of adolescents. This project is being conducted in collaboration with Naomi Eisenberger and Adriana Galván of UCLA.
COLLEGE TRANSITION STUDY
Funding: University of California Office of the President
A short term longitudinal study of the transition to college among first year students. The impact of family background, daily experiences, social belonging and contribution, close relationships on psychological and physical health are examined.