Skin-to-skin contact between a parent and newborn reduces how strongly a baby's brain responds to pain. Read More
Children whose mothers' used cannabis while pregnant are more likely to have an elevated risk of psychopathology during middle-school. Researchers found those exposed to cannabis in utero were more likely to experience depression, anxiety, attention problems, social-behavioral problems, and sleep disturbances. Additionally, the children showed signs of lower cognitive performance, lower indices of global brain structure, and were more likely to have a lower birth weight. Read More
Study links diabetic ketoacidosis to lower IQ scores and worse memory in children with type 1 diabetes. Read More
The risk of ASD may increase slightly for every week a child is born before or after 40 weeks gestation. Read More
People who were avid gamers during childhood performed better at working memory tasks, even if they no longer played than their non-gaming peers. Read More
When a child reaches the age of two-and-a-half, the primary purpose of sleep changes from brain-building to brain maintenance and repair, a role it maintains for the rest of our lives. Read More
Microglia, immune cells that protect the brain from infection and inflammation, also appear to play a critical role in sculpting circuits in the developing brain. Read More
The levels of a protein called FABP4 are significantly lower in children aged four-to-six in children with autism. Read More
People on the autism spectrum have lower levels of a protein that regulates serotonin in the brain. Read More
Levels of oxytocin were substantially lower in adults who experienced parental divorce as children compared to those whose families remained together. Read More
Unlike adults, infants and young children use both hemispheres of their brain to process language. Read More
Allowing children to embark on some "green time" and providing access to nature could help buffer the negative consequences on mental and physical health associated with screen time. Read More
