Brain Development Lab

03/17/2026

"For parents, it can feel mind-numbing. But for a child, that repetition is pure gold—feeding their need for predictability, building confidence, and laying the foundation for early literacy. "

Repetition helps your child feel safe, even if you need a break from 'Click Clack Moo.'

02/17/2026

"By tracking brain activity as people listened to a long podcast, researchers found that meaning unfolds step by step—much like the layered processing inside systems such as GPT-style models."

Scientists have discovered that the human brain understands spoken language in a way that closely resembles how advanced AI language models work. By tracking brain activity as people listened to a long podcast, researchers found that meaning unfolds step by step—much like the layered processing in...

02/02/2026

"Despite the concerns, phonics is an important step towards becoming a skilled reader. This is increasingly recognised in English speaking countries including the US, Australia, and the UK, although it is only in England that schools are explicitly required to provide phonics instruction."

Despite some concerns, a phonics-based approach might help to close the attainment gap

12/15/2025

"Hearing their mother’s voice may help premature babies develop stronger language pathways in the brain. In a groundbreaking study, preemies who regularly listened to recordings of their mothers reading had more mature language-related brain connections than those who did not."

Hearing their mother’s voice may help premature babies develop stronger language pathways in the brain.

12/09/2025

"Being a good language model starts in infancy. Respond to your baby when he or she smiles or laughs. Look at your baby when he or she makes sounds. Read to your baby and toddler. Model words to build a vocabulary. Give choices: Do you want your baby or block, banana or apple? Add on to what your child says. When a child says “car,” you say, “big car.” PLAY, PLAY, PLAY! … Children learn language through play. Ask questions during play. Talk about what you are playing with. Here’s the dog. He says, “ruf ruf.” When you read to your child, ask “What’s this?” or “Where is the______” to work on comprehension. Take advantage of language in a variety of daily activities, from grocery shopping, bath time, meals and outside play."

Therese Montanari, director of the Speech-Language and Feeding program at Johns Hopkins All Children's, discusses pediatric speech-language issues.

12/02/2025

"Your brain and body literally “sync” with music, according to new research. Instead of just understanding rhythm, our neural circuits physically resonate with it—shaping how we feel and move to music. This could lead to breakthroughs in therapy, education, and emotionally aware AI."

Your brain and body literally “sync” with music, according to new research. Instead of just understanding rhythm, our neural circuits physically resonate with it—shaping how we feel and move to music. This could lead to breakthroughs in therapy, education, and emotionally aware AI.

11/18/2025

"In the hippocampus, a critical brain region for learning and memory, new cells emerge in some people into late adulthood, according to a study published July 3 in the journal Science. The findings tip the scales in a still-active debate over how our brains continue to develop throughout life."

Neurogenesis may be happening in a brain region essential for memory and learning.

11/10/2025

"A recent study put the handwriting versus typing question to the test. “Our study goes straight to the question of whether we should teach children to read and write from the very beginning with digital devices,” says Joana Acha, Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at Universidad del País Vasco"

Pencil and paper could lead to better learning in kindergarten

10/29/2025

"“Some researchers now argue that how well children are able to attend to the mouth, especially during certain times within development, can be predictive of their lexicon and later language skills,” Kaganovich said."

In a noisy school cafeteria, two children speak over the conversations and clanging utensils happening around them. While many observers may see the children talking and think their ears are doing all of the comprehension, Natalya Kaganovich, associate professor in the Purdue University Department o...

10/29/2025

"According to a new study from MIT cognitive scientists, sentences that stick in your mind longer are those that have distinctive meanings, making them stand out from sentences you’ve previously seen. They found that meaning, not any other trait, is the most important feature when it comes to memorability."

MIT neuroscientists find sentences that stick in your mind longer are those that have distinctive meanings, making them stand out from sentences you’ve previously seen.

10/07/2025

Congratulations to undergrads@lilymaecochell and and their mentors and for a successful VKC Science Day!!

09/23/2025

"Scientists worked with more than 200 elementary students to test their working memory, assess its role in word-problem solving and if interventions could boost it and thereby improve their word problem solving skills. Results showed that improving working memory helped both students with and without math difficulties and can help educators more effectively by helping teach the science of math, study authors argue."

Working memory is like a mental chalkboard we use to store temporary information while executing other tasks. Scientists worked with more than 200 elementary students to test their working memory, assess its role in word-problem solving and if interventions could boost it and thereby improve their w...