Research Interests

The research of Dr. White's Developmental Neuropsychology Laboratory focuses on cognitive development in typically-developing children and children with damage to frontal brain regions. Primary emphasis is on executive abilities such as working memory, inhibitory control, response monitoring, and strategic processing. Neuroimaging correlates of cognition are examined using methods such as diffusion tensor imaging. Studies of pharmacological effects on brain and cognition are also ongoing. Pediatric populations of particular interest include phenylketonuria, stroke related to sickle cell disease, traumatic brain injury, and prematurity.

Selected Publications

White, D. A., Waisbren, S., & van Spronsen, F. J. (2010). The psychology and neuropathology of phenylketonuria. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 99(Supplement 1), 1-2.

Christ, S. E., Huijbregts, S., de Sonneville, L., & White, D. A. (2010). Executive function in early-treated phenylketonuria: Profile and underlying mechanisms. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 99(Supplement 1), 22-32.

White, D. A., Connor, L. T., Nardos, B., Shimony, J., Archer, R., Snyder, A. Z., Moinuddin, A., Grange, D. K., Steiner, R. D., & McKinstry, R. C. (2010). Age-related decline in the microstructural integrity of white matter in children with early- and continuously-treated phenylketonuria: A diffusion tensor imaging study of the corpus callosum. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 99(Supplement 1), 41-46.

Waisbren, S., & White, D. A. (2010). Screening for cognitive and social-emotional problems in individuals with phenylketonuria: Tools for use in the metabolic clinic. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 99(Supplement 1), 96-99.

White, D. A., Waisbren, S., & van Spronsen, F. J. (2010). Final commentary: A new chapter in phenylketonuria. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 99(Supplement 1), 106-107.

Casella, J. F., King, A. A.,  Barton, B., White, D. A., Noetzel, M., J., Ichord, R. N., Terrill,C., Hirtz, D., McKinstry, R. C., Strouse, J. J., Howard, T. H., Coates, T. D., Minnitti, C. P., Campbell, A. D., Vendt, B. A., Lehmann, H., & DeBaun, M. R. (2010). Design of the silent infarct transfusion (SIT) trial. Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, 27, 69-89.

Brahmbhatt, S. B., White, D. A., & Barch, D. M. (2010). Developmental differences in sustained and transient activity underlying working memory. Brain Research, 1354, 140-151.

Banerjee, P., Grange, D. K., Steiner, R. D., & White, D. A. (2011). Executive strategic processing during verbal fluency performance in children with phenylketonuria. Child Neuropsychology, 17, 105-117.

McAuley, T., & White, D. A. (2011). A latent variables examination of processing speed, response inhibition, and working memory during typical development. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 108, 453-468.

McAuley, T., Christ, S., & White, D. A. (2011). Mapping the development of response inhibition in young children using a modified day-night task. Developmental Neuropsychology, 36, 539-551.

Tamez, E., Myerson, J., Morris, L., White, D. A., Baum, C., & Connor, L. T. (2011). Assessing executive abilities following acute stroke with the Trail Making Test and Digit Span. Behavioural Neurology, 24, 177-185.

Christ, S. E., Moffitt, A. J., Peck, D., White, D. A., & Hilgard, J. (2012). Disrupted functional brain connectivity in individuals with early-treated phenylketonuria: Evidence from resting state fMRI. Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease.

Janos, A., Grange, D. K., Steiner, R. D., & White, D. A. (2012). Processing speed and executive abilities in children with phenylketonuria. Neuropsychology.

Araujo, G., Christ, S. E., Grange, D. K., Steiner, R. D., McKinstry, R. C., Coleman, C., Timmerman, E., & White, D. A. (2012). Executive response monitoring and inhibitory control in children with phenylketonuria: Effects of expectancy. Developmental Neuropsychology. 

Peng, H., Peck, D., White, D. A., & Christ, S. E. (2012). Tract-based evaluation of white matter damage in individuals with early-treated phenylketonuria. Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disorders.

Departments

Courses

• Developmental Neuropsychology
• Children's Studies Minor Seminar
• Psychological Assessment I
• NeuropsychologicalAssessment
• Psychological Interventions II: Neuropsychology
• Neuropsychological Syndromes