# Neurobehavioral Development of Emotion Regulation in Young Children

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2021 · $129,600

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
 Early life experiences play a critical role in shaping behavior. From birth to two years of age, brain and
behavioral development are continuously and interdependently influenced by environmental characteristics.
Yet little is known about early genetic, environmental and neural correlates of emotion regulation (ER). The
overarching goal of this research is to identify developmental mechanisms at play in children’s early regulatory
abilities as precursors of later internalizing an externalizing behavior problems.
 The project builds on two previously funded NIMH studies (R37 MH50560, PI: Goldsmith; P50 MH100031,
Center Director and PI: Davidson) conducted at the University of Wisconsin’s Waisman Center, an
interdisciplinary research center optimally positioned to support the PI’s career development. The first goal of
the project is to study extensive measures of ER in a sample of twins at 6, 12, 22, and 36 months of age to
detect the relative genetic and environmental contributions to ER across infancy. Sensitive parenting, familial
stress, and parent involvement all impact infants’ behavioral ER, yet the extent to which ER is related to
hereditary versus environmental mechanisms of influence is unknown. The project will identify discrete
parenting and family environmental moderating mechanisms associated with ER development.
 The second goal of the project is to examine how early structural and functional alterations within the
limbic system impact behavioral phenotypes of emotion regulation. Emerging findings in neurobehavioral
science suggest that brain and behavioral development are interdependent and that infancy is a pivotal time in
the development of both ER and the neural circuitry within the limbic system and basal ganglia. Each of these
systems play a pivotal role in emotional expression and regulation, yet we do not know how neurodevelopment
of ER during infancy may be altered by environmental factors. The project examines measures of ER and
parenting from 1 to 24 months to better understand interrelations between neurodevelopment and infants’
developing regulatory abilities.
 The goals of the proposed project mirror those that NIMH recently published examining the development of
affective behaviors and prioritizing support for research elucidating genetic, biological, behavioral and
environmental mechanisms in developing complex social behaviors. The proposed training plan
incorporates formal and informal instruction in statistical genetics, affective neuroscience, and statistical
analysis of neuroimaging from leaders in the field. The PI will acquire the necessary training, practical
experience, and knowledge to move into a tenure-track faculty position at a strong research institution.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10130628
- **Project number:** 5K01MH113710-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth Planalp
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $129,600
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-04-05 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10130628

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10130628, Neurobehavioral Development of Emotion Regulation in Young Children (5K01MH113710-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10130628. Licensed CC0.

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