Dennis Saikkonen

After retiring in 2023 from a twelve-year professional ice hockey career, today I am a PhD candidate in Developmental Neuroscience at the Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development. Under supervision of Nora Maria Raschle, we in our NMR Kids Lab research team investigate intergenerational transfer of socioemotional skills across family members. For this purpose, we employ a multi-level analytical approach and collect neuroimaging, physiological, and behavioral data from all family units. My current research focuses on the emergence of neural networks in the developing human brain, particularly in relation to mentalizing skills. Being part of the LIFE program is a privilege from my point of view, and I am excited to connect and exchange with other LIFE fellows and experts in the field.

Dissertation project: The emergence of neural networks in the developing human brain: Social, developmental, and intergenerational perspectives