Developmental Psychology

Autistic children with early language delays show a unique auditory profile, prioritizing pitch over timing. According to recent research, this enhanced pitch perception could explain how some autistic individuals acquire language skills through unconventional learning methods.

New research reveals that while infants' brains process musical structure as early as three months old, their bodies take much longer to catch up. Structured physical movement to music doesn't emerge until closer to their first birthday.

A new study of over 80,000 infants reveals that babies breastfed for their first six months are less likely to experience short sleep durations at age one, challenging the common belief that formula-fed babies sleep longer.

A new study tracked teenagers over a year and found that experiencing negative life events is strongly linked to depressive symptoms. For girls, stressful events were specifically tied to a sharp increase in negative self-evaluation.

Using baby teeth to reconstruct weekly chemical exposures, scientists found that the specific timing of early metal absorption is associated with differences in the developing brain and later adolescent behavior.

A new study shows that pregnant women exposed to higher levels of air pollution may have children who exhibit more attention-related symptoms in school. However, this exposure is not associated with higher rates of formal clinical ADHD diagnoses.

A recent study shows that teenagers overwhelmingly point to positive experiences like educational achievements or forming relationships as their most formative life events, challenging the traditional scientific focus on childhood stress and trauma.

A new study links chronic indoor radon exposure to altered brain wave patterns in children. The findings suggest the common radioactive gas may disrupt the typical development of neural networks needed for attention and cognitive control.

A recent Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry study suggests the heavier twin at birth tends to score higher on cognitive tests later in life. These findings highlight how conditions in the womb independently influence long-term brain development.

By analyzing genetic and environmental data from thousands of twins, researchers found that early trauma shapes mental health in distinct ways that increase a person's vulnerability to later domestic abuse.

A new longitudinal study reveals that specific brain wave patterns emerging around age nine can reliably predict whether a child will develop anxiety or depression during their teenage years, opening the door for proactive mental health interventions.

Using virtual reality, researchers found that children who take physical risks during playtime develop better hazard-assessment skills. The study highlights how a cultural embrace of adventurous play helps kids safely navigate complex real-world environments.

A third grader's afternoon restlessness might predict their educational future. Researchers tracking students with wearable devices found that the ability to sustain self-control throughout the school day strongly correlates with lifelong academic achievement.

While most children outgrow occasional fibs, new research shows that persistent childhood lying predicts a higher risk of antisocial behavior and criminal records in early adulthood. Escalating deception often signals a need for early intervention.

When children watch their parents interact, their brains sync up with the adults via an invisible biological alignment. A new scanning study reveals that this synchronization provides a vital pathway for emotional learning and protects kids against behavioral struggles.