- brain development
- cognitive neuroscience
I am curious about the influences of intrinsic and environmental factors on brain development and the resulting cognitions and behaviours. Thus, I am particularly fascinated by cognitive neurosciences at the intersection to psychopathology and clinical practice.
As part of my PhD, I am investigating the effects of stress and sex hormones on the adolescent brain. Specifically, I explore the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying social hierarchy learning and non-social reinforcement learning during stress. To this end, I am comparing adolescents across age and menstrual cycle or hormonal contraceptives intake in women. These learning mechanisms guide adaptive behaviors in the social world while growing up, thus it is necessary to investigate processes via which healthy development is at risk.
