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neurodevelopment

This shows a high school football player and a brain.

·November 26, 2024·4 min read

Concussion Impacts Brain Activity and Cognition in High Schoolers

Concussions affect aperiodic brain activity, a key signal often dismissed as "background noise," which plays a role in brain excitability and cognitive function. High school football players who experienced concussions showed slowed aperiodic activity, correlating with worse memory, concentration, and post-concussion test scores.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 26, 2024·6 min read

When Do Kids Start Creating Original Sentences? AI Pinpoints the Age

Children begin creating novel determiner-noun combinations, like "a dog" or "the house," at around 30 months, reveals a new study combining behavioral observations and computational modeling. By analyzing utterances from 64 English-speaking children and training a predictive model on caregiver speech data, researchers confirmed this milestone as a key point in language development. The study shows that children go beyond mimicking input by applying linguistic rules, a crucial step in learning grammar.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 25, 2024·4 min read

Moms’ Baby Talk Boosts Infant Oxytocin

A new study reveals that when mothers regularly discuss their infants’ thoughts and feelings, it is associated with higher oxytocin levels in their babies. Oxytocin, a hormone crucial for social bonding and emotional development, is influenced by the way mothers reference their child’s internal states during interactions.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 23, 2024·5 min read

Alcohol Use Predicts Escalating Cannabis Vaping Among Youth

A recent study highlights alcohol as the strongest predictor of cannabis vaping initiation and experimentation among youth and young adults, regardless of demographic factors. Conducted over three years, the research found that alcohol consumption increased the likelihood of transitioning from non-use to cannabis vaping.

This shows a parent walking with their kids.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 22, 2024·5 min read

The Secret to Raising Independent Kids? Let Them Learn on Their Own

Parents are 50% less likely to intervene in their young children’s tasks, such as getting dressed, when these activities are framed as learning opportunities. A new study demonstrated that emphasizing the educational value of everyday tasks promotes children’s independence and resilience by reducing overparenting.

This shows a little girl reading a book, surrounded by cute animals.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 22, 2024·5 min read

Animal Characters in Children’s Books Boost Theory of Mind

Animal characters in children's books can significantly boost their theory of mind skills, which are essential for understanding social cues. The research showed that children exposed to animal characters performed better in theory of mind tests than those with human characters, with younger children scoring similarly to older peers.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 22, 2024·4 min read

Emotional Struggles and Tantrums in Preschoolers Linked to ADHD

Preschool children who struggle to regulate their emotions are more likely to show symptoms of ADHD and mental health challenges by age seven. A study of over 19,000 children found that slower emotional development was significantly linked to behavioral issues, internalizing symptoms like sadness, and conduct problems. These findings suggest that monitoring emotional regulation in early childhood could help identify children at risk for mental health issues.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 21, 2024·6 min read

Frequent Snoring in Teens Linked to Behavior Issues

Adolescents who snore frequently are more likely to show behavioral issues such as inattention, rule-breaking, and aggression, but their cognitive abilities, including memory and language skills, remain unaffected, a new study reveals. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 12,000 children in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, the largest U.S. brain development project. They found snoring rates naturally declined as children aged, even without treatment, but persistent snorers showed behavioral difficulties that might be mistaken for ADHD.

This is a drawing of a toy fox and a child with a speech bubble saying "blicket" and "toy".

Featured Neuroscience

·November 21, 2024·8 min read

Toddlers Use Grammar Hints to Unlock the Meaning of New Words

Toddlers use subtle grammatical cues in sentences to infer the meanings of new words. Researchers found that children rely on "focus" signals—emphasis or stress in speech—rather than assuming words are mutually exclusive.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·November 21, 2024·5 min read

Maternal Inflammation May Shape Offspring’s Alzheimer’s Risk

Maternal immune activity during pregnancy influences memory circuitry in offspring, with sex-specific effects extending into midlife. Elevated immune markers like IL-6 and TNF-a in mothers were linked to adverse brain activity in memory regions, particularly in postmenopausal women, and lower cognitive performance in children.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·November 21, 2024·4 min read

Immune System Gene Linked to Hyperactivity, ADHD and Autism

Researchers have uncovered a link between the immune gene regulator STAT1 and hyperactive behaviors in mice, offering new insights into neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD. STAT1, vital for infection response, also influences brain cell activity, particularly dopamine neurons involved in motivation and learning. In mice with prolonged STAT1 signaling, hyperactivity and reduced neural activity in key brain regions were observed. The study opens the door to targeting STAT1 for potential therapies to address neurobehavioral disorders.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 21, 2024·4 min read

Cannabis Worsens Brain Connectivity Deficits in Psychosis Risk

Young adults at risk of psychosis show reduced synaptic density, a critical brain connectivity deficit that cannabis use appears to exacerbate, according to new research. The study revealed lower synaptic density linked to social withdrawal and motivational deficits, symptoms poorly addressed by current medications.