Who we are
Welcome to the Affective Neuroscience & Development Laboratory at Harvard University. The lab is led by Leah Somerville, Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. We use a combination of behavioral, psychophysiological, and neuroscientific techniques to understand how the brain develops during adolescence, and how brain development during this time relates to typical changes in motivation, decision making, emotion, and risk for psychiatric illness.
We are part of the Department of Psychology and conduct neuroimaging research at the Center for Brain Science at Harvard University. Our laboratory community includes individuals with a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and career goals. We believe that fostering a diverse community of scholars enhances our work, our viewpoints, and our impact as scientists; moreover, we affirm our commitment to our Department’s broader efforts toward enhancing diversity, inclusion, and belongingness.