To investigate the development of neural systems underlying cognitive control of emotion and reward in typically developing adolescents as well as those diagnosed with or at-risk for anxiety and mood disorders. We focus particularly on puberty-related neurodevelopment as way to identify mechanisms of vulnerability for affective disorders as well as potential sensitive periods for neurobehavioral interventions in at-risk youth. We employ a multimodal neuroimaging approach, including event-related potentials (ERPs), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and diffusion imaging along with measurements of behavior in the lab and in the real-world.

Representative Publications

Ladouceur CD, Dahl RE, Carter CS. Development of action monitoring through adolescence into adulthood: ERP and source localization. Developmental Science. 2007 10(6):874-891. PMID: 17973802.

Ladouceur CD, Dahl RE, Birmaher B, Axelson DA, Ryan ND. Increased error-related negativity (ERN) in childhood anxiety disorders: ERP and source localization. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines. 2006 47(10):1073-1082. PMID: 17073986.

Phillips ML, Ladouceur CD, Drevets WC. A neural model of voluntary and automatic emotion regulation: Implications for understanding the pathophysiology and neurodevelopment of bipolar disorder. Molecular Psychiatry. 2008 13(9):833-857. PMID: 18574483 PMCID: PMC2745893

Ladouceur CD, Silk JS, Dahl RE, Kronhaus D, Ostapenko L, Phillips ML. Fearful faces influence attentional control processes in anxious youth and adults. Emotion. 2009 9(6):855-864. PMID: 20001128.

Ladouceur CD, Peper JS, Crone EA, Dahl RE. White matter development in adolescence: The influence of puberty and implications for affective disorders. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. 2012 2(1):36-54. PMID: 22247751 PMCID: PMC3256931.

Ladouceur CD. Neural systems supporting cognitive affective interactions in adolescence: the role of puberty and implications for affective disorders. Frontiers of Integrative Neuroscience. 2012 6(65):1-11. doi:10.3389/fnint.2012.00065. PMID: 22969712 PMCID: PMC3431538.

Ladouceur CD, Schlund MW, Segreti AM. Positive reinforcement modulates fronto-limbic systems subserving emotional interference in adolescents. Behavioural Brain Research. 2018 15;338:109-117. PMID: 29079512

Ladouceur CD, Tan P, Sharma V, Bylsma L, Silk J, Siegle G, Forbes E, McMakin DL, Dahl RE, Kendall PC, Mannarino A, Ryan ND. Error-related brain activity in pediatric anxiety disorders remains elevated following individual therapy: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2018 59(11):1152-1161. PMID: 29603219, PMCID: PMC6165715

Ladouceur CD, Kerestes R, Schlund MW, Shirtcliff EA, Lee Y, & Dahl RE. Neural systems underlying reward cue processing in early adolescence: The role of puberty and pubertal hormones. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019 102:281-291. PMID: 30639923

White SF, Lee Y, Schlund MW, Shirtcliff, EA, & Ladouceur CD. Testosterone reactivity is aAssociated with reduced neural response to reward in early adolescence. Behavioural Brain Research. In press.

Jones NP, Schlund M, Kerestes R, & Ladouceur CD. Emotional interference in early adolescence: Positive reinforcement modulates the behavioral and neural effects of negative emotional distracters. Cerebral Cortex. 2019 Dec 8. Pii: bhz266. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhz266 PMID: 31812998.