Regulation Across the First Decade of Life

Regulation – a multilayered construct defined by the interplay of excitation and inhibition –undergoes substantial development across the first decade of life, is supported by bottom-up processes, and matures in the context of parent-infant synchrony and the neurobiology of affiliation. The talk will chart a biobehavioral perspective on the development of regulation by providing insights from five birth cohorts each followed repeatedly across the first decade of life using careful behavioral observations and neurobiological assessments. These include a healthy cohort and four high-risk cohorts (prematurity, multiple birth, maternal postpartum depression, and continuous trauma), each highlighting a unique aspect in the conceptualization of regulation. Effects of regulated versus dysregulated experiences on brain and behavior will demonstrate the utility of integrating “regulation” as a key concept for psychological science.