Dr. Pollak plans to study how children attend to and remember information such as emotions conveyed through facial expressions and tone of voice. Similarly he will be evaluating how quickly children process emotional vs. neutral information and how accurately they perceive this information. The procedures used to collect this information will use cutting-edge computer equipment that makes the studies simple and fun for children. For example, one study will include having children play a computer video game that involves matching words, pictures, or faces. In the future, Dr. Pollak plans to continue studies on Down syndrome and emotion using functional brain imaging techniques.
Emotions are highly salient biological cues for humans.
Technological developments over just the past few years have given us the tools to study the biology of emotional development with more scientific precision than we had in the past. By looking at brain functioning, my goal is to understand the biological factors that may put children at risk for emotional difficulties such as depression. NDSS has been providing funding since 1983 to post-doctoral scholars who have demonstrated extraordinary skill and achievement in seeking a better understanding of Down syndrome. Traditionally, NDSS funds studies in the field of neurobiology. This study drew the interest of the NDSS Scientific Council such that they decided to fund this behaviorally-based research.