Philip Zelazo, Ph.D.
Professor in the Institute of Child Development
For Philip David Zelazo, studying the development of executive function—the intentional control of thought, action, and emotion—is a window into human consciousness. Uncovering the structure, function, and impact of consciousness on our daily lives locates Zelazo at the crossroads between brain development, neural function, and psychology, where he has led for the past two decades.
“Consciousness is one of the most exciting mysteries being investigated in the neurosciences and social sciences today,” he says. “And that’s what really motivates me.”
Zelazo’s research requires new analytical strategies and an interdisciplinary approach from multiple angles—which makes the University and CEHD ideal professional homes for him, he says. Zelazo joined the University in 2007 as the Nancy M. and John E. Lindahl Professor in the Institute of Child Development (ICD) after spending 15 years at the University of Toronto.
A psychologist by training, Zelazo earned his doctorate from Yale University, advanced to a full professor of psychology, and served as Canada Research Chair in developmental neuroscience. Over time, Zelazo developed a keen interest in the intersection of cognitive function and executive function. He is especially engaged in how brain development relates to behavioral development in children.
Zelazo was attracted to ICD’s concentration of esteemed developmental scientists and its ranking as U.S. News & World Report’s top graduate program of developmental psychology. Another big draw: access to the powerful imaging equipment at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research. He is involved with the Center for Neurobehavioral Development, as well—an ideal interdisciplinary union between physicians, psychologists, neuroscientists, and others who study children’s cognitive and neurobehavioral function.
Since he joined ICD, Zelazo has found that transitioning from a psychology department to an institute dedicated to child development helps him apply his research more significantly in the real world. “I’m more interested now than I ever was in finding ways in which our research can have practical consequences for children’s lives by improving education or minimizing suffering,” says Zelazo. “I’ve gotten more interested in translating what we do in the lab to other areas of human life.”
He is engaged in numerous research projects and operates his namesake Zelazo Lab, which concentrates on executive function and wide-ranging topics such as how infants plan and execute actions and the way children’s emotional reactions can influence their problem solving. He is also teaming up with fellow ICD professors Stephanie Carlson and Ann Masten to work with homeless children in Minneapolis. Children who grow up in poverty and highly mobile home situations can be predisposed to poor executive function. This, in turn, can lead to challenges in the classroom, such as an inability to sit still and concentrate on learning. Zelazo, Carlson, and Masten are researching whether providing guided reflection to preschoolers on their actions will help them better develop their executive function.
Next up for Zelazo: forming cross-cultural research exchanges with scientists in China, investigating whether mindfulness training can help improve students’ performance, and much, much more.
Learn more about the work Zelazo and others are doing at the Zelazo Lab »
Story by Suzy Frisch | Photo by Dawn Villella | May 2010
