Developmental Psychology

A recent study suggests that prenatal exposure to BPA may increase autism risk in boys with low aromatase enzyme activity, possibly through estrogen-related brain changes. However, it does not confirm BPA as a direct cause of autism.

Left amygdala connections to brain networks regulating attention and social behavior are linked to children’s withdrawal, depression, and social problems, revealing distinct brain circuits for these internalizing behaviors.

Recent research found that when mothers use their phones, they speak less to their babies, with a 16% decrease in speech overall and a 26% drop during short phone use periods.

New research shows babies' early vocalizations follow organized patterns, suggesting they actively practice speech-like sounds even without adult interaction. This discovery could deepen our understanding of language development and help identify early communication disorders.

Short, light-intensity exercises can increase blood flow to children's prefrontal cortex, according to new research.. These easy-to-implement exercises could help reduce sedentary behavior and enhance brain health in schools.

New research suggests that by age three, children’s mirror neurons help them understand and anticipate others' intentions, highlighting early social-cognitive development.

Researchers found that higher screen use in families is associated with poorer language skills in young children. The study emphasizes the importance of parent-child interactions for language development, especially in screen-heavy households.

A recent study found that children with persistently high inflammation are at greater risk of developing mental health disorders, such as depression and psychosis, and cardiometabolic issues like insulin resistance, by early adulthood.

A study found that women’s responses to baby faces vary based on nurturing tendencies and oxytocin sensitivity, with more pronounced baby schema features eliciting stronger neural and automatic reactions, suggesting both conscious and unconscious caregiving sensitivity.

Researchers recently published a study in the journal Biological Psychology investigating how infants respond to eye contact from both humans and humanoid robots.

Changes in personality traits, particularly neuroticism, extraversion, and openness, appear to influence shifts in self-esteem during adolescence, with traits like extraversion and openness boosting self-esteem and neuroticism lowering it.

A study found that adolescents exposed to more parental conflict experienced lower sleep efficiency and more wake episodes in emerging adulthood, linking family stress during adolescence to long-term sleep problems. The findings highlight lasting impacts of parental conflict on sleep.

Recent research found that more tablet use at age 3.5 slightly increased frustration by age 4.5, and higher frustration at 4.5 was linked to increased tablet use by age 5.5, suggesting a small bidirectional relationship.

Children breastfed for 1 to 8 months generally had higher cognitive test scores, suggesting a connection between breastfeeding and cognitive abilities.

Shorter sleep and late bedtimes in children, especially those from low-income families, are linked to smaller amygdala size and weaker brain connections, potentially affecting emotional regulation and increasing the risk of stress-related mental health problems.