Welcome to the Lab of Neurocognitive Development of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Our research focuses upon the changes in brain function that subserve the acquisition of higher-order cognition from late childhood through adolescence in normal development and in neuropsychiatric disturbances, including autism. Most of our research is aimed at delineating brain circuitry underlying higher-order cognition including networks for voluntary response suppression, spatial working memory, prototype formation, and planning of anticipated motor responses.

The Teenage Brain in the Media!

In October 2011 National Geographic published an article about teenage brain development titled "Beautiful Brains" by David Dobbs. In it LNCD director Dr. Beatriz Luna, among other scientists, speaks about our research and what we know about the adolescent brain. We're excited to be featured in such an esteemed magazine - please check it out below!