NIH initiative

[Adele A. Abrahamsen]

There's lots to add; but time limits me to a few suggestions.  Look
below item 1 and at item 2.  Adele Abrahamsen

On Wed, 18 Aug 1999, Dennis L. Molfese wrote:

> I would appreciate your input ASAP.
......
>
> 1. Social and behavioral influences on cognition, learning, language,
> and emotional development: Normal and abnormal;
>     a. Elucidate social and biological interactions influencing normal
> and abnormal development;
>        1). family violence/abuse/neglect/psychosocial deprivation;
>        2). poverty;
>        3). peer and social support networks;
>        4). bilingualism;
>        5). ethnicity and multicultural influences;
>     b. experimental and therapeutic interventions and effects on brain
> and behavior;
>        1). clinical trials of experimental drugs;
>        2). psychopharmacology (developmental psychopharmacology);
>
ADD:
  #. Mechanisms of cognition, learning, language, and emotional
     development;
     a. Support the development of multi-investigator databases and
        tools for using them effectively, on the model of the Child
        Language Data Exchange System;
     b. Achieve a more global perspective, including the development
        of new, technology-based methods for international
        collaboration and increased use of data from a variety of
        cultures and languages;
     c. Give increased attention to adaptive computational models
        for understanding mechanisms of change;
        1). dynamical systems theory;
        2). neural networks;
        3). artificial life and other models at an evolutionary scale;
     d. Give increased attention to embodied and situated cognition;
     e. Improve how evidence is used from a variety of learners,
        including those with Down syndrome, Williams syndrome,
        and other genetic disorders, towards modeling intact mechanisms;

> 2. Developmental Neuroplasticity;
>     a. behavioral intervention (early, familial);
>     b. imaging;

CHANGE 2 TO THIS (b IS A GENERALIZED FORM OF KEITH NELSON'S ADDITION):
  2.  Behavioral Interventions;
      a. early intervention;
      b. familial intervention;
      c. rich interventions grounded in computational models,
         including dynamical systems theory and neural networks;
      d. new methods for assessing intervention effects, e.g. the
         incorporation of neuroimaging techniques;

> 3. Neurobiologic, genetic, and environmental influences on
> development and developmental disorders;
>     a. endocrinology;
>     b. immunology;
>     c. environmental toxins;
>     d. gene interactions;
>     e. nutrition/ eating disorders;
>     f. molecular and cellular mechanisms in normal and abnormal development;
>     g. methodological techniques including imaging, animal models, and
> human models;
>
> 4. Developing neurofunctional and neurobehavioral connections and pathways;
>     a. neuroanatomical and neurobehavioral bases of cognition,
> language, affect, attention, memory, learning, and motor skills;
>     b. genetic bases of neuroanatomical and neurobehavioral development;
>     c. neuroanatomical and neurobehavioral bases of attention and
> learning deficits or disorders;
>
> 5. Neuronal and non-neural contributions to dendritic synaptic development;
>     a. dendritic arborization;
>     b. myelination, ion channels, neurotransmitters, apoptosis.
>
> If you would like to elaborate on any of the above areas, or add
> related or new topics, please let me know.
.......
> Thanks,
>
> Dennis Molfese
>
> Dennis L. Molfese, Ph.D.
> Chair and Professor
> Distinguished University Scholar
> Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
> University of Louisville
> 317 Life Sciences Building
> Belknap Campus
> Louisville, KY 40292-0001
>
> 502/852-6775 or 502/852-8274
> FAX:  502-852-8904
> dmolfese at louisville.edu
> dlmolf01 at athena.louisville.edu
>
>
--
Dr. Adele Abrahamsen
Undergraduate Director of Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology Program
     and Coordinator of Linguistics
Department of Psychology
Washington University in St. Louis
Campus Box 1125
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO  63130-4899

Office telephone:  (314) 935-7445
Office location:   New Psychology Building, Room 410B

Email:  adele at twinearth.wustl.edu
Fax:    (314) 935-7588