ScienceDaily: Child Development News

Brain can be trained in compassion, study shows

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:03:03 EDT

A new study shows that adults can be trained to be more compassionate. The report investigates whether training adults in compassion can result in greater altruistic behavior and related changes in neural systems underlying compassion.

Good marriage can buffer effects of dad's depression on young children

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:05:05 EDT

What effect does a father's depression have on his young son or daughter? When fathers report a high level of emotional intimacy in their marriage, their children benefit, said a new study.

Children of married parents less likely to be obese

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Children living in households where the parents are married are less likely to be obese, according to new research.

Overeating learned in infancy, study suggests

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:12:12 EDT

Research shows that clinical obesity at 24 months of age strongly traces back to infant feeding patterns.

Aggressive behavior linked specifically to secondhand smoke exposure in childhood

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:21:21 EDT

Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke in early childhood are more likely to grow up to physically aggressive and antisocial, regardless of whether they were exposed during pregnancy or their parents have a history of being antisocial.

Child maltreatment increases risk of adult obesity

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:57:57 EDT

Children who have suffered maltreatment are 36 percent more likely to be obese in adulthood compared to non-maltreated children, according to a new study. The authors estimate that the prevention or effective treatment of seven cases of child maltreatment could avoid one case of adult obesity.

Asthma symptoms impair sleep quality and school performance in children

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:52:52 EDT

The negative effects of poorly controlled asthma symptoms on sleep quality and academic performance in urban schoolchildren has been confirmed in a new study.

Early-life traffic-related air pollution exposure linked to hyperactivity

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:12:12 EDT

Early-life exposure to traffic-related air pollution was significantly associated with higher hyperactivity scores at age 7, according to new research.

How bilinguals switch between languages

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:38:38 EDT

Individuals who learn two languages at an early age seem to switch back and forth between separate "sound systems" for each language, according to new research. The research addresses enduring questions in bilingual studies about how bilingual speakers hear and process sound in two different languages.

Less sleep associated with increased risk of crashes for young drivers

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:32:32 EDT

A new study suggests less sleep per night is associated with a significant increase in the risk for motor vehicle crashes for young drivers.

Premature birth interrupts vital brain development processes leading to reduced cognitive abilities in infants

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Researchers have for the first time used a novel form of MRI to identify crucial developmental processes in the brain that are vulnerable to the effects of premature birth. This new study shows that disruption of these specific processes can have an impact on cognitive function.

Link between childhood ADHD and obesity revealed in first long-term study

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:39:39 EDT

A new study found men diagnosed as children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were twice as likely to be obese in a 33-year follow-up study compared to men who were not diagnosed with the condition.

One in 10 teens using 'study drugs,' but parents aren't paying attention

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:44:44 EDT

Just one in 100 parents believe their kids have used prescription stimulants to boost grades, according to a new poll.

Autism: Sensory-motor or environmental enrichment may be promising approach

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:33:33 EDT

In the first successful experiment with humans using a treatment known as sensory-motor or environmental enrichment, researchers documented marked improvement in young autistic boys when compared to boys treated with traditional behavioral therapies, according to new research

Brain makes call on which ear is used for cell phone

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:16:16 EDT

If you're a left-brain thinker, chances are you use your right hand to hold your cell phone up to your right ear, according to a newly published study. The study shows a strong correlation between brain dominance and the ear used to listen to a cell phone.

Most math being taught in kindergarten is old news to students

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:51:51 EDT

Kindergarten teachers report spending much of their math instructional time teaching students basic counting skills and how to recognize geometric shapes -— skills the students have already mastered before ever setting foot in the kindergarten classroom, new research finds.

Flu in pregnancy may quadruple child's risk for bipolar disorder

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:14:14 EDT

Flu in pregnant mothers has been linked to a nearly fourfold increased risk that their child might develop bipolar disorder in adulthood. The findings add to mounting evidence of possible shared underlying causes and illness processes with schizophrenia, which some studies have also linked to prenatal exposure to influenza.

Brain frontal lobes not sole center of human intelligence, comparative research suggests

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:28:28 EDT

Human intelligence cannot be explained by the size of the brain's frontal lobes, say researchers. Research into the comparative size of the frontal lobes in humans and other species has determined that they are not -- as previously thought -- disproportionately enlarged relative to other areas of the brain, according to the most accurate and conclusive study of this area of the brain. It concludes that the size of our frontal lobes cannot solely account for humans' superior cognitive abilities.

Grammar errors? The brain detects them even when you are unaware

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:15:15 EDT

Your brain often works on autopilot when it comes to grammar. That theory has been around for years, but neuroscientists have now captured elusive hard evidence that people indeed detect and process grammatical errors with no awareness of doing so.

Parental addictions linked to adult children's depression

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:33:33 EDT

The offspring of parents who were addicted to drugs or alcohol are more likely to be depressed in adulthood, according to a new study. Investigators have examined the association between parental addictions and adult depression in a representative sample of 6,268 adults, drawn from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey.

Methylphenidate 'normalizes' activation in key brain areas in kids with ADHD, study suggests

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:33:33 EDT

The stimulant drug methylphenidate "normalizes" activation of several brain areas in young patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new review.

Brain anatomy of dyslexia is not the same in men and women, boys and girls

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:18:18 EDT

Using MRI, neuroscientists have found significant differences in brain anatomy when comparing men and women with dyslexia to their non-dyslexic control groups. Their study is the first to directly compare brain anatomy of females with and without dyslexia.

Enhanced motion perception in autism may point to an underlying cause of the disorder

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:18:18 EDT

Children with autism see simple movement twice as quickly as other children their age, and this hypersensitivity to motion may provide clues to a fundamental cause of the developmental disorder, according to a new study.

Early math and reading ability linked to job and income in adulthood

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:31:31 EDT

Math and reading ability at age 7 may be linked with socioeconomic status several decades later, according to new research. The childhood abilities predict socioeconomic status in adulthood over and above associations with intelligence, education, and socioeconomic status in childhood.

Geneticists find causes for severe childhood epilepsies

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:30:30 EDT

Using a DNA sequencing technique capable of deciphering all human genes at the same time, researchers have discovered genetic mutations underlying seizure disorders in previously undiagnosed children.

Why family conflict affects some children more than others

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:28:28 EDT

New research reveals why some children are badly affected by negative family conflicts while other children survive without significant problems. Researchers found that the way in which children understood the conflicts between their parents had different effects on their emotional and behavioral problems. Where children blamed themselves for the conflicts between their parents, they were more likely to have behavioral problems, such as anti-social behavior. But if their parents' fighting or arguing led to a child feeling threatened, or fearful that the family would split up, the child was more likely to experience emotional problems, such as depression.

Father and teenagers: Desire for children affects relationship

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:28:28 EDT

The relationships of fathers to their teenaged children are apparently influenced by the nature of their previous desire for children. The more acute that this feeling is, the more closely fathers engage with their children at an everyday level.

Look! Something shiny! How some textbook visuals can hurt learning

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:24:24 EDT

Adding captivating visuals to a textbook lesson to attract children’s interest may sometimes make it harder for them to learn, a new study suggests.

Link between intimate partner violence and depression

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:56:56 EDT

Not only are women who have experienced violence from their partner (intimate partner violence) at higher risk of becoming depressed, but women who are depressed may also be at increased risk of experiencing intimate partner violence, according to a new study.

Ice Age ancestors might have used words in common with us

Tue, 07 May 2013 07:46:46 EDT

New research shows that Ice Age people living in Europe 15,000 years ago might have used forms of some common words including I, you, we, man and bark, that in some cases could still be recognized today.

Traumatized moms avoid tough talks with kids

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:17:17 EDT

Mothers who have experienced childhood abuse, neglect or other traumatic experiences show an unwillingness to talk with their children about the child's emotional experiences, a new study shows.

Nearly 20 percent of suicidal youths have guns in their home

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Nearly one in five children and teens found to be at risk for suicide report that there are guns in their homes, and 15 percent of those at risk for suicide with guns in the home know how to access both the guns and the bullets, according to a new study.

High school athletes say concussions won't sideline them

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Many high school football players say it's OK to play with a concussion even though they know they are at risk of serious injury, according to a new study.

Cyberbullying rampant among high school students: Nearly one-third of youths also report playing video/computer games for more than 3 hours a day

Sun, 05 May 2013 07:37:37 EDT

Step into a class of 30 high school students and look around. Five of them have been victims of electronic bullying in the past year. What's more, 10 of those students spend three or more hours on an average school day playing video games or using a computer for something other than school work, according to a new study.

Childhood disability rate jumps 16 percent over past decade

Sun, 05 May 2013 07:37:37 EDT

More children today have a disability than a decade ago, and the greatest increase is among kids in higher-income families, according to a new study.

90 percent of pediatric specialists not following clinical guidelines when treating preschoolers with ADHD

Sat, 04 May 2013 16:33:33 EDT

A recent study by pediatricians examined to what extent pediatric physicians adhere to American Academy of Pediatrics clinical guidelines regarding pharmacotherapy in treating young patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The results showed that more than 90 percent of medical specialists who diagnose and manage ADHD in preschoolers do not follow treatment guidelines recently published by the AAP.

Monkey math: Baboons show brain's ability to understand numbers

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:27:27 EDT

Opposing thumbs, expressive faces, complex social systems: it's hard to miss the similarities between apes and humans. Now a new study with a troop of zoo baboons and lots of peanuts shows that a less obvious trait -- the ability to understand numbers -- also is shared by humans and their primate cousins.

Kids with conduct problems may have brains that under-react to painful images: May increase risk of adult psychopathy

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:18:18 EDT

When children with conduct problems see images of others in pain, key parts of their brains don't react in the way they do in most people. This pattern of reduced brain activity upon witnessing pain may serve as a neurobiological risk factor for later adult psychopathy, say researchers.

Focus on STD, not cancer prevention, to promote HPV vaccine use

Thu, 02 May 2013 12:04:04 EDT

The HPV vaccine can prevent both cervical cancer and a nasty sexually transmitted disease in women. But emphasizing the STD prevention will persuade more young women to get the vaccine.

Bigger birth weight babies at greater risk of autism

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:17:17 EDT

The biggest study of fetal growth and autism to date has reported that babies whose growth is at either extreme in the womb, either very big or very small, are at greater risk of developing autism.

Social isolation of young adults with autism spectrum disorder examined

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:29:29 EDT

Young adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to be socially isolated. That’s the finding of new research that studies the social outcomes of young adults with an ASD.

Early intervention found cost effective through school years

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:28:28 EDT

The Early Start Denver Model, a comprehensive behavioral early intervention program that is appropriate for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as young as 12 months, has been found to reduce the need for ASD therapies and special education services through the school years following their early intervention compared to early intervention services typically available in the community.

Humor styles and bullying in schools: Not a laughing matter

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:06:06 EDT

There is a clear link between children’s use of humor and their susceptibility to being bullied by their peers, according to a major new study.

Mild iodine deficiency in womb associated with lower scores on children's literacy tests

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:14:14 EDT

Children who did not receive enough iodine in the womb performed worse on literacy tests as 9-year-olds than their peers, according to a recent study.

Shedding light on the long shadow of childhood adversity

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:57:57 EDT

Childhood adversity can lead to chronic physical and mental disability in adult life and have an effect on the next generation, underscoring the importance of research, practice and policy in addressing this issue, according to a new article.

Researchers successfully treat autism in infants: Playing games that infants prefer can lessen severity of symptoms

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:25:25 EDT

Most infants respond to a game of peek-a-boo with smiles at the very least, and, for those who find the activity particularly entertaining, gales of laughter. For infants with autism spectrum disorders, however, the game can be distressing rather than pleasant, and they'll do their best to tune out all aspects of it -- and that includes the people playing with them.

Smoking prevention in schools: Does it work?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:09:09 EDT

Smoking prevention in schools reduces the number of young people who will later become smokers, according to a new systematic review. For young people who have never smoked, these programs appear to be effective at least one year after implementation.

How we decode 'noisy' language in daily life: How people rationally interpret linguistic input

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:49:49 EDT

Suppose you hear someone say, "The man gave the ice cream the child." Does that sentence seem plausible? Or do you assume it is missing a word? Such as: "The man gave the ice cream to the child." People use an array of strategies to make sense of confusing statements.

Rare, lethal childhood disease tracked to protein

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:49:49 EDT

Scientists have identified how a defective protein plays a central role in a rare, lethal childhood disease known as giant axonal neuropathy, or GAN. GAN is an extremely rare and untreatable genetic disorder that strikes the central and peripheral nervous systems of young children.

Reading wordless storybooks to toddlers may expose them to richer language

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:48:48 EDT

Researchers have found that children hear more complex language from parents when they read a storybook with only pictures compared to a picture-vocabulary book.

Poor parenting -- including overprotection -- increases bullying risk

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:40:40 EDT

Children who are exposed to negative parenting -- including abuse, neglect but also overprotection -- are more likely to experience childhood bullying by their peers, according to a meta-analysis of 70 studies of more than 200,000 children.

Prevention programs dramatically cut substance abuse among teens

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:24:24 EDT

Young adults reduce their overall prescription drug misuse up to 65 percent if they are part of a community-based prevention effort while still in middle school, according to researchers.

'Redshirting' kindergarteners not as common as reported

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:23:23 EDT

New research findings show that “redshirting” in kindergarten – the practice of delaying for a year a child’s entry into kindergarten – is not happening at the rate previously reported.

Examine social factors to explain rise in diagnoses of mental disorders

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:32:32 EDT

Examining social factors is vital to better explaining and understanding the dramatic rise in the number of Americans diagnosed with mental disorders in recent years, according to a new analysis.

Autism risk spotted at birth in abnormal placentas

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:16:16 EDT

Researchers have figured out how to measure an infant's risk of developing autism by looking for abnormalities in his/her placenta at birth, allowing for earlier diagnosis and treatment for the developmental disorder.

New hope for Autistic children who never learn to speak

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:25:25 EDT

Scientists are showing that while not all of the current interventions used to improve language among Autistic children are effective, there is real hope for progress by using interventions based on understanding natural language development and the role of motor and "motor mirroring" behavior in toddlers.

Intractable seizures halted with experimental treatment for rare pediatric 'Pretzel syndrome'

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:09:09 EDT

With a better understanding of underlying mechanisms that cause a rare neurodevelopmental disorder in the Old Order Mennonite population, referred to as Pretzel syndrome, a new study reports that five children were successfully treated with a drug that modifies the disease process, minimizing seizures and improving receptive language.

First vaccine to help control some autism symptoms

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:23:23 EDT

A first-ever vaccine for gut bacteria common in autistic children may also help control some autism symptoms.

Use of anti-epileptic drug during pregnancy associated with increased risk of autism

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:18:18 EDT

Maternal use of valproate (a drug used for the treatment of epilepsy and other neuropsychological disorders) during pregnancy was associated with a significantly increased risk of autism in offspring, according to a new study. The authors caution that these findings must be balanced against the treatment benefits for women who require valproate for epilepsy control.

Infants' sweat response predicts aggressive behavior as toddlers

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:57:57 EDT

Infants who sweat less in response to scary situations at age 1 show more physical and verbal aggression at age 3, according to new research.