Showing 20 articles starting at article 1
Categories: Gynecology, Infant and Preschool Learning
Published Genes influence whether infants prefer to look at faces or non-social objects



Whether infants at five months of age look mostly at faces or non-social objects such as cars or mobile phones is largely determined by genes. The findings suggest that there is a biological basis for how infants create their unique visual experiences and which things they learn most about.
Published New study on experience of adopted people as they become parents



A new piece of research looks at the challenges faced by adopted people when they become parents. The study investigated the lived experiences of adopted people in the UK as they become parents. Until now research in this area has been very limited and hasn't tended to included the experiences of adopted men as fathers.
Published Blood clotting risk quickly drops after stopping hormonal contraceptives



Using birth control pills and other hormone-based contraceptives is known to elevate the risk of blood clots, but a new study suggests that this risk largely goes away within two to four weeks after one stops using these contraceptives. The findings can help patients and doctors weigh the benefits and risks of hormonal contraceptives and guide when to stop using them ahead of events that could further increase the risk of dangerous clots, such as major surgery, prolonged periods of immobility, or when tapering anticoagulant medications after a blood clot.
Published When dads are feeling a bit depressed or anxious, how do kids fare?



A team of researchers has found that slightly higher, but mild anxious or depressive symptoms in fathers were associated with fewer behavioral difficulties in the first years of elementary school and better scores on a standardized IQ test in their children.
Published Visualizing fungal infections deep in living host tissue reveals proline metabolism facilitates virulence



Scientists have published the first successful application of 2-photon intravital microscopy (IVM) to image the dynamics of fungal infections in the kidney of a living host. The study reveals that the opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans requires the ability to metabolize proline, an amino acid obtained from the host, to mount virulent infections.
Published Stunting in infancy linked to differences in cognitive and brain function



New research shows that children who are too short for their age can suffer reduced cognitive ability from as early as six months old. Researchers compared the 'visual working memory' in children who had stunted growth with those having typical growth. They found that the visual working memory of infants with poor physical growth was disrupted, making them more easily distracted and setting the stage for poorer cognitive ability one year later.
Published Imprinted genes in the 'parenting hub' of the brain determine if mice are good parents



Whether a mouse is a good or bad parent can be traced back to imprinted genes in key neurons in the 'parenting hub' in the brain, according to a new study.
Published New study reveals similarities between chimpanzee and human language development



Scientists examining the evolutionary roots of language say they've discovered chimp vocal development is not far off from humans.
Published Fungal infection in the brain produces changes like those seen in Alzheimer's disease



Researchers have discovered how the fungus Candida albicans enters the brain, activates two separate mechanisms in brain cells that promote its clearance, and, important for the understanding of Alzheimer's disease development, generates amyloid beta (Ab)-like peptides, toxic protein fragments from the amyloid precursor protein that are considered to be at the center of the development of Alzheimer's disease.
Published Fresh light shed on mystery of infant consciousness



There is evidence that some form of conscious experience is present by birth, and perhaps even in late pregnancy, an international team of researchers has found.
Published Brain is 'rewired' during pregnancy to prepare for motherhood



Researchers have shown that pregnancy hormones ‘rewire’ the brain to prepare mice for motherhood. The findings show that both estrogen and progesterone act on a small population of neurons in the brain to switch on parental behavior even before offspring arrive. These adaptations resulted in stronger and more selective responses to pups.
Published Grandparent childcare may not help the wellbeing of mums or reduce mother-child conflict, study suggests



Grandparent childcare for toddlers doesn’t have an impact on the wellbeing of their mothers, a new study suggests.
Published Origin of cultural learning: Babies imitate because they are imitated



A new study shows that babies learn to imitate others because they themselves are imitated by caregivers.
Published Eureka baby! Groundbreaking study uncovers origin of 'conscious awareness'



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 New device rapidly controls postpartum hemorrhage



A study led by obstetricians has shown that a new device can rapidly control postpartum hemorrhage, a major cause of severe maternal morbidity and death, in a wide range of patients.
Published Natural compound found in plants inhibits deadly fungi



A new study finds that a natural compound found in many plants inhibits the growth of drug-resistant Candida fungi -- including its most virulent species, Candida auris, an emerging global health threat.
Published Intellectual disability more common in families with substance use disorder



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



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



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 Why parental pressures are taking the fun out of children's play



Modern day parenting pressures and expectations are leading to the death knell for children enjoying spontaneous play, according to a new study.