Natalie H Brito

Natalie Hiromi Brito is an Associate Professor in the Psychology department at Columbia University and director of the Infant Studies of Learning and Neurocognitive Development (ISLAND) Lab. Her research examines how social and cultural environments influence brain and behavioral development in young children. Dr. Brito's research focuses on understanding how to better support caregivers and create conditions that promote healthy child development. Her lab studies how factors in the home environment— including caregiver mental health and the quality of parent-child interactions—affect the development of attention, memory, and social-emotional skills in infants and toddlers. Through this research, Dr. Brito aims to identify the environmental factors that best support early childhood development and inform evidence-based approaches to helping families thrive.