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developmental neuroscience

This shows DNA and a child playing with blocks.

·May 7, 2025·6 min read

Can Genetics Predict Autism Intellectual Disabilities?

A new predictive model combining genetics with developmental milestones may help forecast which autistic children are at risk of developing intellectual disabilities. In a large study of over 5,600 children, researchers were able to correctly predict 10% of such cases and differentiate between low and high-risk groups twice as well as current methods.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 6, 2025·8 min read

Teens With Mental Health Conditions Use Social Media Differently

Adolescents with mental health conditions report distinct and often more negative experiences on social media compared to their peers. Those with internalising conditions like anxiety and depression were more likely to compare themselves to others, struggle with self-control, and experience mood changes tied to likes and comments.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 6, 2025·6 min read

Ultra-Processed Foods Disrupt Infant Gut Health

A Brazilian study of 728 infants found that ultra-processed foods can harm gut microbiota diversity, with stronger effects in children who were not breastfed. Breastfed infants had higher levels of beneficial Bifidobacterium, while non-breastfed children consuming processed products showed elevated levels of bacteria linked to obesity and gastrointestinal issues.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 6, 2025·4 min read

Physical Activity Protects Teens From Depression

A long-term study shows that teenagers who maintain or increase physical activity levels are less likely to develop symptoms of depression. Researchers tracked 873 participants from ages 6 to 18, measuring activity levels with accelerometers and assessing mental health through clinical interviews.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 5, 2025·5 min read

Stressful Neighborhoods May Numb Kids’ Brains to Joy and Loss

Children raised in disadvantaged neighborhoods may show blunted brain responses to rewards and losses, especially if they have a family history of depression. New research reveals that community-level stress, not just personal trauma, can dampen neural reactions tied to motivation and emotional engagement.

This shows a head looking right, and one looking left.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·May 5, 2025·4 min read

Why Lefties Are More Common in Autism and Dyslexia

A new meta-analysis highlights a strong connection between early-onset neurodevelopmental disorders with linguistic symptoms and left- or mixed-handedness. Disorders like dyslexia, autism, and schizophrenia were notably associated with higher rates of non-right-handedness, unlike later-onset conditions such as depression.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 4, 2025·5 min read

Two Key Signals Shape Brain Structure Early, Varying by Person

A new study has revealed how two morphogens, WNT and Sonic Hedgehog, act as molecular "traffic cops," directing early human brain development. Using a custom device and stem cell-derived organoids, researchers showed that exposure to these signals for just five days sets gene programs in motion that shape brain regions.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 3, 2025·6 min read

Writing by Hand Helps Children Learn Letters Better

A new study reveals that young children learn letters and word structures more effectively through handwriting than typing. Researchers taught 5- to 6-year-olds unfamiliar letters and pseudowords using either manual writing or keyboards.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 30, 2025·6 min read

Parents Often Miss Early Clues About How Kids Feel at School

Parents often misread how their children feel about school during their first year, usually taking a full year to align with their child’s actual experiences. While most parents believed their children enjoyed the classroom, many underestimated how much children liked the playground—and vice versa.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 30, 2025·7 min read

Girls With ADHD Face Higher Risk of Anxiety

A new study reveals that in girls, symptoms of inattentive-type ADHD significantly increase the likelihood of developing anxiety during adolescence. Inattention and anxiety appear to reinforce each other in girls, but not in boys, where hyperactivity is the more predictive factor.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 30, 2025·4 min read

Early Teen Depression May Be Easier to Treat Than in Adults

New research reveals that depression in young teens may be more treatable than in adults, thanks to more flexible and less entrenched symptom patterns. Using data from over 35,000 adolescents, researchers applied network analysis and a novel "network temperature" model to show that depressive symptoms stabilize with age, becoming more resistant to change.

$This shows kids in a classroom.$

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 30, 2025·7 min read

The Smart Way to Teach Math? Mix Speed with Strategy

A new review shows that children learn arithmetic most effectively through a structured approach that integrates conceptual understanding with brief timed practice and reflection. Rather than choosing between rote memorization or rich discussion, the most successful instruction cycles through both, reinforcing number sense and mental strategies.