The HANDS Lab is directed by Dr. Eliza L. Nelson and housed in the Department of Psychology at Florida International University. HANDS is an interdisciplinary blend of developmental science and primatology. Our comparative research largely falls into two broad areas: laterality and motor skill. We are currently working on trajectory-based models for understanding how the hands shape development in infants and children, and characterizing how spider monkeys use their hands using motion tracking. We utilize Noldus Observer software for our human behavior research, and software from Innovision Systems and Animal Behaviour Pro for our animal behavior research.
For more information about our active studies and recent findings, please visit our Projects and Reprints pages. HANDS provides rigorous training in the collection and analysis of reaching, grasping, and manipulation in human and nonhuman primates for graduate, undergraduate, and high school students. Please visit our Team page for information about current trainees and opportunities for prospective students.
04/05/2024: Atefeh Karimi was awarded first place for her poster presented at the FIU Psychology Research Days event!
04/04/2024: Kaityn Contino was awarded Best Manuscript of 2023-2024 from the FIU Department of Psychology for her master's thesis paper published in Infant and Child Development!
04/02/2024: Hailey Alfaro, Lynnette Pineiro, Jessie De La Paz, and Victoria Rodriguez presented posters at URFIU 2024.
03/13/2024: Chris Shoukry presented on motor planning in spider monkeys at SEPA 2024 in the undergraduate research showcase session. Chris won first place in the undergraduate research category!
12/18/2023: Chris Shoukry was awarded an undergraduate to graduate program fellowship. He will complete the undergraduate research portion of the award in Spring 2024.
11/03/2023: Atefeh Karimi defended her master's thesis on motor-language developmental cascades in children with Down syndrome.
10/20/2023: Kate Long defended her master's thesis on the meaning of adulthood for parents of emerging adults with Down syndrome.
05/21/2023: We contributed to the Laterality Indices Consensus Initiative paper out in Laterality that makes recommendations on recording, assessing, and reporting asymmetries in human behavior and brain research.
