Developmental Psychology

A study from rural Bangladesh links prenatal fluoride exposure to lower cognitive abilities in children, even at levels below global safety guidelines.

Better emotional skills in childhood are linked to stronger reading comprehension years later, according to new research.

Teens who develop gratitude during middle school may be better protected from depression, thanks to improved self-esteem, according to a recent study.

Children tested during the COVID-19 pandemic show reduced sensitivity to emotional expressions, particularly happiness—highlighting possible effects of limited social exposure in early development.

A new study finds that brain connectivity patterns can predict different types of mental health symptoms, with distinct features linked to internalizing and externalizing behaviors across development.

Children with social anxiety struggle to refocus after making mistakes, but this difficulty fades with age, a new study finds, highlighting key changes in cognitive development.

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.