Exploring The Data
What We've Found So Far
We've been diving deep into this project, and here’s what we’ve found so far. It’s been a journey of trial, error, and learning, and we're sharing our results as they are—honest, ongoing, and full of potential. Take a look at the key insights and discoveries we’ve made, and join us as we continue to explore what's next!
Developmental Coupling of Brain Iron and Intrinsic Activity in Infants During the First 150 Days
Brain iron and neural activity develop in a coupled manner during an infant’s first 150 days. Advanced MRI techniques reveal that brain iron and resting neural activity, particularly in regions associated with the default mode network—a key area for self-referential thinking and memory—increase in tandem as infants grow. These findings underscore the critical role of brain iron in supporting the formation of functional networks essential for cognitive development, highlighting the importance of maintaining adequate iron levels during infancy to foster healthy brain maturation.
Behavioral Coping Phenotypes and Associated Psychosocial Outcomes of Pregnant and Postpartum Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Pregnant and postpartum women used distinct coping styles during the COVID-19 pandemic, categorized into four groups: low coping, passive coping, active coping, and high coping. Women relying on passive coping strategies, such as increased screen time, social media use, and comfort eating, experienced higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Conversely, those who adopted active coping strategies, including self-care, seeking social support, and limiting excessive news exposure, reported better mental health outcomes and fewer disruptions to sleep and energy levels. These findings emphasize the value of promoting active coping approaches to support perinatal mental health during periods of high stress and crisis.
Geotemporal Analysis of Perinatal Care Changes and Maternal Mental Health: An Example from the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted perinatal care, with nearly 80% of pregnant participants and 63% of postpartum participants reporting changes such as reduced prenatal visits, canceled classes, and modified delivery plans. Two disruptions—canceled prenatal visits and the separation of mothers from their babies after birth—were strongly linked to increased anxiety and depression. These results highlight the need for flexible and supportive healthcare practices during crises to safeguard maternal mental health.
OWLET: An Automated, Open-Source Method for Infant Gaze Tracking Using Smartphone and Webcam Recordings
Tracking infant development has traditionally required on-site data collection with trained scientists, creating accessibility barriers. The OWLET (Online Webcam-Linked Eye Tracker) offers a groundbreaking solution by enabling remote tracking of infant attention spans using smartphones or webcams. This method captures eye movements across various devices and locations, making developmental research more inclusive and equitable for families of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Cognitive and Socioemotional Development in Infants Exposed to SARS-CoV-2 In Utero: The Moderating Role of Prenatal Psychosocial Stress
Infants born to mothers who tested positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy and reported high psychosocial stress exhibited lower attention spans at 6 months. While COVID-19 exposure and prenatal stress did not appear to influence social or emotional development at 12 months, this trend of diminished attention at 6 months predicted lower developmental outcomes at 12 months, independent of external factors. These findings underline the importance of addressing prenatal stress to support infant development.