Argues that a reevaluation of our views on the use of children as courtroom witnesses is needed because of the new attention being drawn to child abuse and recent research findings concerning cognitive development. Introduces a series of articles addressing these questions. (KH)

Discusses evidence for experience-dependent reorganization of adult and developing brains, examining changes in the mature brain as a result of experience, reorganization in the developing brain, and mechanisms of change. The paper notes that there is general agreement that experience can have a profound effect on the organization of the brain.…

Examines common assumptions about children's memory and discusses their implications for legal practice. Asserts that, while research has shown that children recall less than adults, there is little evidence for other deficits in children's memory. Describes research suggesting that children may have difficulty with some, but not all,…

Reviews literature on hemispheric specialization. Argues that foundations of hemispheric specialization are present very early in life and that children's greater ability to recover functions following brain injury suggests developmental changes in brain organization. (CMG)

Reviews research on children's ability to remember events in relation to that of adults. Concludes that age interacts with other factors, including language and the relative development of knowledge structures, to determine suggestibility. Suggests that children's memories may at times be less easily influenced than adults' memories. (KH)

Children and adolescents have different understandings of death. For the baby, death is equated with separation. For toddlers, grief occurs when they realize the person is not returning. The preschool child who tends to live in the present with no clear concept of past or future will not understand the finality. Around ages 4 and 5, death is often…

Reviews studies of face-recognition memory and considers implications for assessing the dependability of children's performances as eyewitnesses. Considers personal factors (age, intellectual differences, and gender) and situational factors (familiarity of face, retention interval, and others). Also identifies developmental questions for future…

A review of recent studies on the effects of television viewing on behavior indicates that television has significantly influenced cognitive and affective child development, social behavior, social relationships, and health attitudes and practices. Researchers and the television industry must collaborate to maximize television's positive effects.…

Reviews the behavioral, cognitive, and other psychological features of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), exploring their relationships to known genetic mechanisms. PWS is a genetic developmental disability characterized by a group of specific behavioral features, including an insatiable appetite. The article briefly touches on PWS-related research at…

Research findings produce a positive argument for the inclusion of relaxation training in the school curriculum. Since today's children face a great deal of stress, they must learn coping techniques. Learning to relax at will is one method of learning to survive, because the relaxation response is incompatible with anxiety; the child learns to…