The Lavery lab aims to understand the molecular basis of behavior. We focus on elucidating the role of epigenetic gene regulation in brain development and function, and seek to determine how pathogenic mutations in epigenetic factors give rise to altered neurodevelopment and maladaptive psychological states. Our approach is interdisciplinary combining human genetics, in vivo neuroscience in animal models of neurological disorders, and rigorous biochemical and biophysical dissection of molecular mechanism.