Summary: War exposure in Syrian refugee children triggered unique DNA methylation changes, marking genes involved in brain development and stress responses. These epigenetic changes suggest potential long-term effects on health…
Tag: developmental neuroscience
How Hunter-Gatherer Kids Learn Lifelong Skills by Age Six
Summary: Hunter-gatherer children in the Congo Basin learn critical skills like hunting, gathering, and childcare by age six or seven, thanks to a unique social learning environment. Unlike Western societies,…
How Decision-Making Improves with Age
Summary: Adolescents are known for making less optimal, noisy decisions, but a recent study reveals that these tendencies decrease with age and are linked to improvements in complex decision-making skills.…
Huntington’s Gene Enhances Early Brain Growth and Intelligence
Summary: A study reveals that the genetic mutation causing Huntington’s disease (HD) enhances brain development and intelligence in early life, but leads to degeneration in adulthood. Children with the HD…
Stable Bedtime Boosts Kids’ Behavior and Emotional Control
Summary: Children with regular bedtimes exhibit better emotional control and behavior than those with irregular sleep patterns. Researchers found that consistency in sleep times helps children handle stress and regulate…
Childhood Stress Disrupts Attention, Sleep, and Dopamine Balance in Adults
Summary: New research links childhood adversity with later attention deficits, sleep disruptions, and specific dopamine imbalances in the brain. Focusing on critical developmental windows, scientists found that disrupted care early…
Childhood Attention Problems and Genes Linked to Psychosis Risk
Summary: Childhood attention issues, coupled with genetic predispositions, increase the likelihood of experiencing psychotic-like symptoms in adolescence. By analyzing data from 10,000 youths, researchers discovered that variability in attention spans…
Prenatal Cannabis Use Linked to Child Aggression and Cognitive Deficits
Summary: New research shows that prenatal exposure to cannabis can negatively impact children’s thinking and behavioral skills, including impulse control, attention, and aggression, which are key for academic and social…
