All articles tagged with #cognitive development
A UC San Diego-led analysis of more than 11,000 youths finds that teens who begin using cannabis show slower gains in memory, attention and processing speed over time, with THC exposure associated with worse memory; CBD exposure showed no clear pattern. The researchers caution that causality isn’t proven and will continue tracking participants into young adulthood to understand long-term effects.
A US ABCD study followed about 9,855 kids aged 9–10, with over 5,000 re-evaluated after two years. Those who spent more time playing video games showed an average IQ increase of roughly 2.5 points beyond the typical rise, even after adjusting for genetics and socioeconomic factors. No significant cognitive effects were found for TV watching or social media. Gains were linked to tasks in reading, visual-spatial processing, memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. The study does not prove causation and did not differentiate game types; more research is needed. Published in Scientific Reports.
A comprehensive guide highlighting 12 essential foods for children's daily diet to support growth, brain development, and overall health, emphasizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, eggs, fatty fish, legumes, nuts, iron-rich foods, healthy fats, and hydration, with tips for balanced eating and considerations for resource-limited settings.
Vet-approved toys like puzzle feeders, snuffle mats, and treat-dispensing toys can enhance dogs' cognitive abilities, reduce boredom and anxiety, and help slow down eating, benefiting both their mental and physical health.
A UK study found that bright children from low-income families perform similarly to their wealthier peers until secondary school, after which they experience a sharp decline in attitudes, behavior, mental health, and academic achievement between ages 11 and 14, highlighting the impact of socioeconomic environment on development.
A 2022 study found that children who spend more time playing video games experience a small but notable increase in IQ, challenging the notion that gaming is harmful to young minds. The research, which controlled for genetic and socio-economic factors, suggests that gaming may have positive effects on cognitive abilities, while watching TV and social media showed no significant impact. The findings highlight the complex relationship between screen time and childhood development, emphasizing the need for further research.
A study suggests that what is commonly called 'executive function' in children may be more influenced by formal schooling and cultural context than innate cognitive abilities, challenging traditional views in psychology and cognitive science.
A study involving nearly 10,000 children in the US suggests that playing video games may boost intelligence, with those spending more time gaming showing an average increase of 2.5 IQ points over two years. The research, which accounted for genetic and socio-economic factors, found no significant cognitive effects from watching TV or using social media. While the study highlights potential cognitive benefits of gaming, it calls for further research to explore other environmental impacts on childhood brain development.
A study from MIT reveals that toddlers use grammatical focus cues, such as emphasis in speech, to learn new words, challenging the previous belief that children rely on mutual exclusivity to assign meanings. Experiments with 106 children showed that when a word was emphasized, children were more likely to associate it with a new object. This finding highlights the sophisticated linguistic abilities of young children and suggests that they leverage existing grammatical knowledge to acquire new vocabulary.
A study published in PLOS Biology reveals that decision-making improves with age due to a decrease in decision noise, which is the variability in choices. Adolescents exhibit higher decision noise, leading to suboptimal choices, but this decreases as they mature, enhancing goal-directed behaviors and adaptability. The research highlights the role of cognitive development in decision-making and suggests that understanding decision noise could provide insights into neurodevelopmental disorders.
A study from UC Davis links asthma in children to memory deficits, particularly affecting episodic memory. Children with asthma scored lower on memory tasks compared to peers without the condition, with early-onset asthma linked to slower memory development. The study suggests chronic inflammation or oxygen disruption from asthma may impact cognitive development, potentially increasing the risk of dementia later in life. This highlights the importance of monitoring cognitive development in children with asthma.
A meta-analysis by researchers from MIT, Northeastern University, and Johns Hopkins University has identified two distinct patterns in infant looking behavior, influenced by different factors. The study, published in Nature Human Behavior, found that looking at unexpected stimuli is influenced by infant age, while looking at visually new stimuli is predicted by habituation rate. These findings suggest that perceptual and conceptual novelty guide infant looking behavior independently, offering new insights into cognitive development.
A study found that preschoolers at risk for dyslexia who played "Space Invaders Extreme 2" for 45 minutes a day, four times a week, over 1.5 months showed significant improvement in phonemic awareness compared to those who underwent traditional speech therapy or played other non-action games. The research suggests that action video games could be an effective tool for early intervention in children at risk for dyslexia and potentially other neurodevelopmental disorders.
The Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest crowned its 2024 grand champions, highlighting a resurgence of interest in handwriting as California became the 22nd state to require cursive instruction in schools. Studies have shown that writing by hand benefits memory, cognitive development, and fine motor skills. Educators and researchers emphasize the importance of handwriting in early reading development and its impact on brain activity and memory. The contest winners expressed their love for handwriting, and lawmakers and educators agree on the significance of incorporating handwriting into the curriculum alongside technology.
New research suggests that 24-month-olds have a superior ability to recall things they observed on a screen compared to 15-month-olds, particularly if they slept within four hours after the learning session. The duration of sleep during this period directly correlated with how well they remembered the content. The study sheds light on the effects of sleep on memory consolidation in infants and emphasizes the importance of understanding the complex relationships between sleep, memory, and media to provide evidence-based guidance to parents and practitioners.