University of Maryland, Baltimore · Biomedical EngineeringChild and Adolescent Brain Development Lab
Thomas M Ernst · Baltimore, Maryland
Research Focus
Dr. Thomas M Ernst's lab at the University of Maryland Baltimore is focused on understanding how brain development occurs during childhood and adolescence. Through the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the lab investigates how different life experiences, such as sports or substance use, can influence cognitive and emotional growth in children. The research involves long-term tracking of diverse participants to identify factors that contribute to both healthy brain development and risks for mental health issues.
brain developmentsubstance usecognitive developmentneuroimagingmental healthlongitudinal studychild healthenvironmental factorsadolescence
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the impact of substance use on adolescent brain development.
AIM 02Examine the relationship between physical activity and cognitive function in youth.
AIM 03Analyze the influence of environmental factors on mental health outcomes.
AIM 04Develop national standards for healthy brain development in children.
AIM 05Identify pathways that affect developmental outcomes throughout adolescence.
Skills the Lab Values
neuroimagingclinical assessmentsbioassaysdata analysislongitudinal studiespsychological testingmobile monitoringstatistical softwarescientific communication
Output against the department
Publications94bottom 15% of dept.505th of 595
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations8.3ktop 40% of dept.240th of 595
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.