Stress, Environment, and Neurodevelopment

Our research aims to advance the knowledge of the cerebellum beyond being known simply for motor control. We examine how childhood disadvantage and stress‑related neuroinflammation shape cerebellar white matter development and the predictive models children build about their environments. We combine neuroimaging with behavioral tasks to see whether adversity changes how children notice and react to unexpected events. We also examine whether supportive family environments help buffer these effects, pointing to strengths‑based factors that may promote healthier development.