Language, Experience, And Development Lead Lab

The University of Maryland Language, Experience, and Development (LEAD) lab, directed by Dr. Rachel Romeo, investigates how children’s early experiences—both favorable and adverse—influence their neural, cognitive, and academic development. We specialize in studying language and literacy development, but we are also interested in executive functioning, socioemotional cognition, and mental health across development. The lab combines methods from developmental psychology, cognitive neuroscience (fMRI, DTI, fNIRS, and EEG), education, and speech language pathology to study how young brains adapt to varying environments and lead to unique developmental paths. A primary focus of ours is to better understand both the causes and consequences of socioeconomic disparities in learning and development, and how translational cognitive neuroscience may better support educational equity.