Developmental Psychology

Researchers have created a detailed model of perinatal brain growth, revealing how white and gray matter trajectories shift during gestation. The study also identifies early sex-based differences in brain structure.

Using a bottle to soothe infants at bedtime may backfire. A new study finds this practice disrupts the ability to self-soothe, leading to shorter sleep duration and more frequent interruptions as the baby grows.

New research suggests early physical contact, like hugging or hand-holding, fosters kindness later in life. Adolescents who recalled being held often had more secure attachments to their mothers, which predicted higher levels of compliant prosocial behavior.

A large-scale analysis reveals that while most autistic preschoolers gain language skills through therapy, a distinct subgroup does not. Researchers identified lower motor imitation skills as a key predictor for limited progress.

Adolescent exposure to common air pollutants like nitrogen dioxide is linked to faster cortical thinning, according to a new study. These structural changes occurred primarily in brain regions responsible for executive function and emotional processing.

Preschoolers who spend just one hour a week gardening develop better eating habits and physical activity levels, according to new research published in Acta Psychologica focusing on five-year-old children.

A new study suggests that a father’s early warmth predicts his child’s future inflammation and blood sugar levels. The findings highlight how paternal engagement stabilizes family dynamics to protect children’s long-term health.

Longitudinal data suggest music training acts as a cognitive buffer, protecting vocabulary development in adolescents from high-deprivation backgrounds.

A new analysis finds that replacing time on digital devices with shared reading improves language and emotional development, even when compared to educational apps.

A new study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry suggests that young children exposed to average temperatures above 32°C are less likely to meet developmental milestones, particularly in literacy and numeracy.

Generation Alpha, born between 2010 and 2025, is the first fully digital generation. Psychologists explore how Millennial parents, AI, and global instability are shaping the minds of these two billion children.

A longitudinal study reveals that high curiosity in infancy predicts better cognitive development. Researchers found that 8-month-olds who were most sensitive to new information scored higher on IQ tests three years later.

Adults with gender dysphoria appear to have higher rates of minor physical anomalies than cisgender individuals. The findings suggest that early prenatal development plays a role in shaping gender identity.

Beyond reading and math, the structured routines of the classroom act as a training ground for the brain, sharpening the essential cognitive skills needed to control behavior and achieve goals.

Psychologists have found that social dominance orientation emerges in early childhood. High levels of this trait are linked to dismissing claims of unfairness, suggesting that hierarchy preferences shape how children perceive inequality long before adolescence.