Departmental Affiliations
School of Medicine
Joint
Janet DiPietro, PhD, studies the interface between individual differences in development and physiology, and the implications of the prenatal period for postnatal life.
Contact Info
615 N. Wolfe Street, Room E4546
Baltimore
Maryland
21205
US
410-955-7871
Research Interests
Fetal development; Infant development; Child development; Developmental psychophysiology; Pregnancy; Temperament; Self-regulation; Heart rate variability; Fetal heart rate; Fetal motor activity; Maternal-child interaction
Experiences & Accomplishments
Education
PhD
Stanford University
1982
Overview
As a developmental psychologist, my research centers on understanding the origins of human development, the interface between individual differences in development and physiology, and the implications of the prenatal period for postnatal life. My current research program, which has been ongoing for nearly 30 years, extends this interest to the human fetus. We use digitized assessment methods of measuring fetal neurobehavioral functioning to investigate the ontogeny of development with the ultimate goal of predicting clinical and developmental outcome from the fetal period. Within this context, we are further exploring the role of maternal factors, including substance exposure, maternal emotions, and physiological changes during pregnancy in mediating fetal development.
Select Publications
Selected publications over the last few years:
- Jansson, L.M., Velez, M.L., McConnell, K., Milio, L., Spencer, N., Jones, H., & DiPietro, J.A. (2019). Maternal buprenorphine treatment during pregnancy and maternal physiology. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 201, 38-44. PMCID: 5788458
- DiPietro, J.A., Voegtline, K.M., Pater, H.A., Costigan, K.A. (2018). Predicting child temperament and behavior from the fetus. Developmental Psychopathology, 30, 855-870
- DiPietro, J.A. & *Voegtline, K.M. (2017). The gestational foundation of sex differences in development and vulnerability. Neuroscience. 342, 4-20. PMCID 4732938
- DiPietro, J.A., Costigan, K.A., & Voegtline, K.M. (2015). Studies in Fetal Behavior: Revisited, renewed and reimagines. Monographs for the Society of Research in Child Development. 80(3):vii;1-94.
Projects
Fetal Neurobehavioral Development & Postnatal Continuity