The CNDLAB variously focuses on research of several psychiatric disorders commonly seen in pediatric groups, including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Conduct Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
To better understand how abnormalities of brain structure and function may contribute to these illnesses, the laboratory employs functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electrophysiology (event-related potential and time-frequency decomposition analyses), eye tracking techniques, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), neuropsychological assessment, brain structure analysis (including diffusion tensor imaging), and genetic analysis techniques. The CNDLAB also uses these techniques to study brain structure and function during typical adolescent and young adult maturation and to accelerate the development of novel, non-pharmacological treatments.