Sehjoo K
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill)
Expertise
developmental cognitive neuroscience, adolescent brain development, social influence on decision-making, social relationships
Bio
I'm interested in how people - in particular, adolescents - make social decisions and the functional role of the brain in making these social decisions. For instance, I examine how people make decisions that impact others (e.g., prosocial behaviors that help the community) and are socially influenced by others (e.g., peer influence on risky behaviors), and what motivates people to make these social choices. When not in lab, I like to travel, try new restaurants, go on a walk, and take care of my house plants!Project ideas
literature review on social relationships and behavior during adolescence
Many of adolescents' behaviors, such as risky behaviors, are shaped by their social relationships, such as their parents and peers. Social relationships with parents and peers, however, drastically change across the adolescent years. This project will examine how various social relationships (family, friends, teachers, strangers / public figures) affect various behaviors (risky behaviors, school performance), and how this might look differently from childhood to adulthood.
poster presentation on brain development during adolescence
The human brain rapidly matures during the teenage years. What are some key brain regions that change during adolescence? What the these brain regions known for? How do these brain changes affect social relationships and behavior? This project will help students learn about and visualize adolescent brain development.