Factors Influencing Childhood Brain Development

The primary purpose of this research study is to understand more about factors that may influence childhood brain development.  A child’s environment and whether he or she feels loved and secure are important influences on childhood brain development.  One objective of this study is to examine biological and environmental factors that may be related to physical and emotional neglect in childhood.  Neglected children may suffer from a variety of developmental delays and psychological problems, such as learning disabilities and behavioral, attention, or other mental health problems.  A second objective of this study is to understand why some neglected children suffer from developmental delays and psychological problems while others do not.