Learning
Imaging
Family
Experience
Lab
Welcome to the Learning Imaging & Family Experience (LIFE) Lab at the University of Pittsburgh. The LIFE lab is interested in understanding how children, adolescents, and adults learn and understand their environments. The lab is also interested in understanding how the environment might influence processes like decision making, stress response, and neurodevelopment. We hope our research will help support youths and families as they grow and develop
High levels of stress initially increase amygdala volume, but the most extreme (or chronic) levels of adversity may result in smaller volumes.
Stress exposure is related to aberrant functioning of the corticostriatal circuit, a collection of brain regions centrally involved with reward responsiveness and learning.
