Scientists tap the smarts of mice, capture problem-solving in action

Study by lead author, Linda Wilbrecht, shows rapid rewiring in the frontal brains of mice by capturing images of problem solving in action. 
To read more, click here.

Professor Jennifer Skeem-Led Study Shows Psychosis Rarely Precedes Violence

Study led by Jennifer Skeem with Patrick Kennealy (University of South Florida), John Monahan (University of Virginia), Gillian Peterson (Metropolitan State University) and Paul Appelbaum (Columbia University), indicate that hallucinations and delusions associated with psychiatric disorders seldom foreshadow acts of aggression.

"High-profile mass shootings capture public attention and increase vigilance of people with mental illness," said Dr. Skeem. "But our findings clearly show that psychosis rarely leads directly to violence."

To read more about the study, click here.

New IHD study details lagging early language and preliteracy skills among Latino toddlers. Preschool alone may be too late.

Mexican-American toddlers understanding the achievement gap

Latino childrens' language skills are lagging by age 2-study says

Literacty gap between Latino and white toddlers start early, study shows

Scientists detect brain network that gives humans superior reasoning skills

Principal investigator, Silvia Bunge, analyzed and tracked developmental and evolutionary changes in the brains lateral frontoparietal network that have served to boost humans reasoning skills.
Read more Here

Stephen Hinshaw, Distinguished Scientist Award

 Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology

The ADHD Explosion

Listen to KQED interview with professors Stephen Hinshaw and Richard Scheffler about their new book, The ADHD Explosion: Myths, Medication, Money, and Today's Push for Performance:

What Lies Behind the ADHD Explosion

BigLeap Launches First Crowd-Funding Challenge Platform for Social Good

First Challenge Aims to Give Children Everywhere Access to Free Games That Can Actually Make Them Smarter

This is a challenge to develop low-cost games that provide children everywhere with the opportunity to sharpen their reasoning skills:
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/bigleap-launches-first-crowd-funding-challenge-platform-for-social-good-1822479.htm

Reasoning Training Increases Brain Connectivity Associated with High-Level Cognition

The Bunge Lab was recently cited in Scientific American for our recent publications linking reasoning training to strengthened neural pathways associated with higher-level cognitive ability:

Click Here to Read the Article

Phil and Carolyn Cowan Leading a Couples' Communication Project in London

Phil and Carolyn are bringing their expertise on the impact of parenting roles have on relationships to London.  They will be working with counselors to develop new ways for couples to communicate.  To read more, click here.

Why Gender Equality Stalled

Stephanie Coontz discusses the changes in gender equality in the United States since Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique was published in 1963.  In her opinion editorial, Coontz also presents how Phil and Carolyn Cowan's work with couples transitioning from partners to parents affects the gender dynamics in the relationship.
Why Gender Equality Stalled

Three Surprising Truths About Teens

Christine Carter, Director of Greater Good Parents, interviews Ron Dahl about adolescents and their emotional development.  In this article, she discusses three points that came as a surprise to her:  (1) "Your adolescent isn't a teenager"; (2) "Kids don't necessarily want to be happy":  and (3) "Puberty makes many kids seek conflict-and this is a good thing."  To read more, click here.

Study: Latino Children Make Up For Academic Shortcomings With Strong Social Skills

Mexican-American preschoolers start school way behind their white counterparts. Their poor language and pre-literacy skills put them at a huge disadvantage academically. But new research is showing that their social skills are fully developed and robust by the time they start school and are indistinguishable from their white peers. Experts believe the new findings have promising implications.

To hear the podcast: click here

Mexican American toddlers lag in preliteracy skills, but not in their social skills, new study shows

The research team of  UC pediatricians and child development specialists, including Bruce Fuller,  found that Mexican American toddlers and preschoolers lag in preliteracy skills but not social skills.  For more information, click here. (In Spanish: click here.)

For Young Latino Readers, an Image Is Missing

"Young Lation children are several months behind in early 

language and preliteracy skills before entering kindergarten, relative to White peers, a new study details.  But the social skills and emotional maturity of Mexican-American children by 4 years of age is on part with White children, despite almost two-fifths growing up in poor families.  The paper will be published in December in the "Materinal and Child Health Jorunal,"  coauthored by Institute members and collaborating pediatricians at the UCLA medical school."

To read the full article in The New York Times, click here.

Early Growth of Mexican–American Children: Lagging in Preliteracy Skills but not Social Development

Kids don't have to wear lab coats to act like scientists

Alison Gopnik's work is featured in an article published in the San Francisco Chronicle entitled "Preschoolers at play show science skills."  

To read more, click here.

Scientific Inquiry Among the Preschool Set

Prof. Alison Gopnik's research with preschool aged children has found that children behave like scientists by forming hypotheses, experimenting, and deciphering causal relationships.  Read more here.

Can babies read?

Anne Cunningham's research addresses the importance of early literacy  to "unlock an upward spiral of skills, achievement, positive attitudes, and willing practice."  Her work is addressed in the following Salon.com article:
Can babies read?

Mexican Moms Are More Nurturing Than White Ones, Study Finds

Bruce Fuller's research over a three-year period with Mexican-born, Chinese-born, and white native-born mothers found that Mexican-origin mothers were found to provide "warm and nurturing home settings," fewer arguments with spouses, and stronger mental health.

For more information, see:  Mexican Moms Are More Nurturing Than White Ones, Study Finds

Intense prep for the LSAT alters brain structure

Research conducted in Silvia Bunge's lab shows that intensive preparation for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) actually changes the microscopic structure of the brain, physically bolstering the connections between areas of the brain important for reasoning. Read more about this research.

Raising Successful Children

Dr. Diana Baumrind's research on parenting styles is reviewed when examining how to raise successful, motivated children. Raising Successful Children