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cognitive development

·April 28, 2025·5 min read

Brain Growth Charts Reveal Early Cognitive Development Patterns

A new study has created the first normative charts of brain functional development from birth to six years old, highlighting how brain network growth tracks with cognitive milestones. Using MRI scans from over 1,000 children, researchers mapped how different brain networks, such as visual, subcortical, and attention systems, mature and interact over time.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 10, 2024·5 min read

Critical Brain Development in Toddlers at 16 Months

Researchers found that 16-month-old toddlers engage more brain regions to develop cognitive skills like inhibitory control. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), the study showed increased brain activity in the prefrontal and parietal cortex. Despite no observable improvement in skills, significant brain changes were noted between 10 and 16 months. This highlights 16 months as a crucial period for developing the ability to follow instructions and control impulses.

This shows a child looking at models of the brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 5, 2024·5 min read

Brain Training in Kids Shows No Real-World Benefits

Brain training exercises for children do not significantly improve their cognitive control, academic performance, or delay gratification. The research debunks the effectiveness of such programs, showing no long-term brain changes. Despite improving specific task performance, the benefits did not extend to broader cognitive or behavioral outcomes.

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·July 28, 2023·5 min read

Infant Nap Frequency Reflects Cognitive Needs

A new study found that the frequency and duration of naps in infants are an indication of their cognitive needs. According to the research, infants with smaller vocabularies and poorer cognitive abilities tend to nap more frequently.

This is a drawing of a kids playing a video game

Featured Neuroscience

·February 8, 2023·4 min read

Video Game Playing Causes No Harm to Young Children’s Cognitive Abilities

Regardless of the game type or length of time a child plays a video game, there is no correlation with a decline in cognitive ability, a new study reports.

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·January 21, 2023·6 min read

Premature Birth Linked to Poorer School Grades in Adolescence

Children born at or before 34 weeks of gestation tended to have lower scores in tests for mathematics, language, and IQ as teenagers compared to those born at full term.

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·December 22, 2022·5 min read

Evidence of Horizontal Gene Transfer Between Human Maternal Microbiome and Infant Gut Microbiome

A new model of vertical microbiome transmission between mother and child has been reported. Researchers say microbes in the maternal gut share genes with those in the infant's gut during the perinatal period directly following birth up to a few weeks postbirth.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 24, 2022·4 min read

Watching TV With Your Child Can Help Their Cognitive Development

Family TV time can have a beneficial effect on a child's cognitive development, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 20, 2022·4 min read

How the Brain Develops: A New Way to Shed Light on Cognition

A new computational neuroscience study sheds light on how the brain's cognitive abilities develop and could help shape new AI research.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 31, 2022·6 min read

Children Who Lack Sleep May Experience Detrimental Impact on Brain and Cognitive Development That Persists Over Time

Children who sleep less than 9 hours per night have significant differences in brain regions associated with memory, intelligence, and well-being compared to their peers who sleep 9 or more hours per night. Less sleep in children was also associated with increased risks of depression, anxiety, and impulsive behaviors.

This shows two little girls doing school work

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 3, 2022·7 min read

Children Who Attend Schools With More Traffic Noise Show Slower Cognitive Development

Children who attend school close to busy roads and traffic are more likely to experience deficits in working memory and attention, a new study reports.

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·May 20, 2022·4 min read

New Research Challenges Established Ideas About Infant Crying

The duration of a baby's crying decreases significantly after five weeks of age, but crying remains an important part of a child's communication repertoire after the age of six months.