Developmental Psychology

Scientific studies increasingly highlight the essential role of physical touch in promoting infant health, neurodevelopment, and parent-infant attachment.

A new study reveals babies begin learning language earlier than previously believed. Researchers found four-month-olds connect sounds to mouth movements, demonstrating early pattern recognition crucial for language development.

For girls, early harsh parenting might impact brain circuits involved in emotion regulation, increasing the likelihood of behavioral difficulties later in childhood.

A study found that infants with persistent regulatory problems (e.g., sleeping, crying, feeding difficulties) had poorer peer relationships in adulthood and increased functional connectivity in the allostatic-interoceptive brain system.

New research reveals both genetic risk and childhood maltreatment are linked to adult ADHD. Genes may also shape a child's environment, increasing the likelihood of maltreatment, potentially via early ADHD symptoms.

New research suggests that rice-based complementary feeding may protect against ADHD, reducing the hazard by 27%. Male sex, low income, and low birth weight were also identified as ADHD risk factors.

A new study published in the Journal of Dental Research finds no link between early childhood fluoride exposure and lower intelligence in young adulthood, reinforcing the safety of fluoride in water and toothpaste for developing brains.

Scientists have developed a new method to understand autism by studying individual variations in brain connectivity.

A large study failed to replicate previous findings suggesting infants prefer "helpers," questioning the idea of innate moral understanding and raising "blank slate" possibilities.

Childhood neglect, but not abuse, is linked to slower working memory development from adolescence into young adulthood. While executive functions improve generally, those neglected show a more gradual increase in working memory. This study highlights the unique impact of neglect...

Preschoolers with poor emotional regulation are more likely to develop ADHD symptoms, conduct problems, and anxiety by age seven, highlighting the importance of early emotional development for preventing future mental health challenges.

Children exposed to cannabis before birth showed weaker attention, self-control, and planning skills in lab tests, along with more aggressive behavior.

Parents who use food to manage their child’s emotions or behavior may harm their child’s ability to regulate emotions, leading to emotional overeating.

Reducing leisure screen time for two weeks improved children’s mental health by decreasing emotional and peer-related difficulties while boosting positive social behaviors, highlighting the benefits of taking short breaks from screen media use.