Sleep: Perchance to Find the Earliest Markers and Mediators of Childhood Disease and Positive Health

Speaker:

Bill Fifer, PhD

Columbia University Medical Center

 

 

 

 

About the Speaker:

Dr. Fifer’s early work focused on the effects of prenatal experience on infant behavior and perception with a specific interest in the role of fetal and newborn learning. His current research interests focus on fetal and neonatal behavioral, physiological and central nervous system development. Current investigations in his laboratory include studies of fetal, newborn and premature infant neurobehavioral responses to environmental stimulation during sleep and the effects of prenatal exposures on later neurodevelopment. With local, national and international colleagues, his laboratory studies the effects of maternally mediated exposures on the developing fetus, early learning and memory, behavioral and cortical activity during environmental challenges, development of autonomic control during sleep, and assessment of risk adverse outcomes including placental dysfunction, sudden infant death, autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. With local, national and international colleagues he is currently involved in several maternal/fetal/infant longitudinal cohort studies investigating early markers, mediators and mechanisms underlying the origins of health and disease.

Outcome Areas: Positive Health

Date: Wednesday, February 11, 1 to 2pm

Presentation Overview:

Dr. Fifer will discuss sleep and early markers, mediators and mechanisms underlying the origins of health and disease.