Showing 20 articles starting at article 1
Categories: Infant and Preschool Learning, Mental Health Research
Published Eureka baby! Groundbreaking study uncovers origin of 'conscious awareness'
(via sciencedaily.com) Fundamental questions of agency -- acting with purpose -- have perplexed some of the greatest minds in history including Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. Now, human babies provide groundbreaking insight into the origins of agency. Since goal-directed action appears in the first months of human life, researchers used young infants as a test field to understand how spontaneous movement transforms into purposeful action. The 'birth' of agency can be quantified as a 'eureka-like,' pattern-changing phase transition within a dynamical system that spans the baby, the brain, and the environment.
Published Intellectual disability more common in families with substance use disorder
(via sciencedaily.com) Children of a parent with alcohol or drug use disorder have a greater risk of intellectual disability, even if the problem only lies with the father, researchers report. According to the study, preventive measures should be directed at both parents.
Published Toddlers learn to reason logically before they learn to speak, study finds
(via sciencedaily.com) Nineteen-month-old toddlers already use natural logical thinking, even before they learn to speak, to deal with uncertainties about the world. This natural logic contributes to their learning process, both in terms of language and in other fields of knowledge, according to a new study.
Published Adding complex component of milk to infant formula confers long-term cognitive benefits for bottle-fed babies
(via sciencedaily.com) New research has shown how a complex component of milk that can be added to infant formula has been shown to confer long-term cognitive benefits, including measures of intelligence and executive function in children.
Published Research hints at links between babies' microbiome and brain development
(via sciencedaily.com) In a small, exploratory study, levels of certain types of microbes in babies' guts were shown to be associated with performance in tests of early cognitive development.
Published Newly identified lipid in breast milk might reduce cerebral palsy in infants
(via sciencedaily.com) In experiments using neonatal mice, researchers have identified a fatty molecule in breast milk that triggers a process in which stem cells in the brain produce cells that create new white matter, reversing brain injury.
Published What nap times reveal about your child's brain development
(via sciencedaily.com) Infants who nap a lot have smaller vocabularies and poorer cognitive skills -- according to new research.
Published How mother and infant sleep patterns interact during the first two years of life
(via sciencedaily.com) New mothers can expect sleep deprivation in the first few years of baby's life. But too little sleep can take a toll on the health of both mother and child. A new study looks at maternal and infant sleep patterns, identifying predictors and providing recommendations for instilling healthy habits.
Published Hardship affects the gut microbiome across generations
(via sciencedaily.com) A new study has shown that hardship experienced by mothers during their own childhood or during pregnancy is reflected in the composition of their 2-year-old children's gut microbiome. It was previously understood that in rodents, prenatal stress affects microbiomes into adulthood, but how long after birth the effects lasted in humans was unknown. The changes to this community of microorganisms are likely among the ways that hardship affects a child's socioemotional development.
Published Baby opera: Study finds babies get a kick out of live music
(via sciencedaily.com) Study findings suggest that even babies feel the impact of being at a live show, through both musicians' interactions with an audience and the social experience of being in a crowd.
Published Burns take a toll on academic outcomes
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A common childhood injury has been shown to slash school completion rates, adding to evidence that found being hospitalized can have a long-lasting effect on young people.
Published Babies talk more around human-made objects than natural ones
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study suggests young children are more vocal when interacting with toys and household items, highlighting their importance for developing language skills.
Published Neural signature for borderline personality disorder identified
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study of a brain region called the rostro-medial prefrontal could potentially advance diagnosis and therapies for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
Published Poor sense of smell linked to increased risk of depression in older adults
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source In a study that followed more than 2,000 community-dwelling older adults over eight years, researchers say they have significant new evidence of a link between decreased sense of smell and risk of developing late-life depression.
Published A subtype of depression identified
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Using surveys, cognitive tests and brain imaging, researchers have identified a type of depression that affects about a quarter of patients. The goal is to diagnose and treat the condition more precisely.
Published Chronic stress-related neurons identified
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have identified a group of nerve cells in the mouse brain that are involved in creating negative emotional states and chronic stress. The neurons, which have been mapped with a combination of advanced techniques, also have receptors for estrogen, which could explain why women as a group are more sensitive to stress than men.
Published Dads are key in supporting breastfeeding, safe infant sleep
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Fathers can make a huge difference in whether an infant is breastfed and placed to sleep safely, according to a recent survey of new fathers.
Published High-quality child care contributes to later success in science, math
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Children who receive high-quality child care as babies, toddlers and preschoolers do better in science, technology, engineering and math through high school, and that link is stronger among children from low-income backgrounds, according to new research.
Published Conflict in marriage less harmful for kids when dad keeps it constructive
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Conflict is unavoidable in all marriages. When it erupts in families with children, stressed or angry parents may take their pain out on the kids, projecting their anger or withdrawing emotionally or physically. In the worst cases, children's socioemotional development can suffer. But the way parents, especially fathers, deal with marital conflict can make a difference to kids, according to a new study.
Published Serotonin booster leads to increased functional brain connectivity
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Cognitive deficits accompany mood disorders and other psychiatric conditions, often with debilitating effects. Limited treatments currently exist, but studies in animals and humans have pointed to drugs such as the laxative prucalopride that activate serotonin receptors as a potential therapeutic for the symptoms. It has remained unclear, however, how the medication affects resting brain activity. Now, a new study examines the drug's effects in healthy human adults.