How Early Life Shapes The Developing Brain

Early life is a critical time for brain development and long-term mental health. The structure of our environment during this period, from before birth through the first years of childhood, has the power to transform how the brain grows and behaviors emerge. What happens to brain development when that environment is disrupted by stress, insufficient sleep, and fragmented care? How can we promote resilience during this key neurodevelopmental stage? In this event, three experts bring together perspectives combining neuroscience, psychology, and clinical approaches to discuss the trajectory of brain development in early life.

Claudia Lugo-Candelas, PhD, Florence Irving Associate Professor of Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, will open our event by discussing the role of maternal sleep in shaping the brain and behavior of the next generation. By identifying fluctuations in sleep during pregnancy, Dr. Lugo-Candelas is able to investigate the very first environment we grow up in, even before birth. What happens to a young child’s neurodevelopment if their mother couldn’t get enough quality sleep? And what science-based strategies do we have to counteract negative effects of maternal stress?

Kevin G. Bath, PhD, Professor of Neuroscience and Behavior at Barnard College of Columbia University, Research Scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and Associate Professor of Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, will then explore how adverse experiences encountered in early life can influence the developing brain. Changes introduced into the mother-pup relationships of mice, such as irregular sleep schedules and unpredictable caregiving, greatly impact the structure of the pup’s environment. How does the brain of a newborn mouse grow and mature in the face of these shifts? By directly measuring how the brain rewires and adapts, Dr. Bath’s research sheds light on what biology tells us about navigating stressful experiences.

Following the two talks, Dr. Thiago Arzua, Postdoctoral Research Scientist in the lab of Dr. Bianca Jones Marlin at Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute, will moderate a discussion and Q&A with the speakers. Audience questions are welcomed, either submitted during registration or live during the event.