Investigation of infant development among African tribesmen discovered the development of emotional responses follows identical time schedules of youngsters in civilized society. It is suggested that behavioral development is linked to early anatomical changes in the brain. (SL)

Small family size has a number of apparently positive effects on a child's intellectual development. Discusses trends in Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores which strongly parallel changes in American family size. Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores also reflect family size and parent education level; larger families correlate with lower IQs. (DH)

Discusses the findings of a recent study concerning the ability of an infant to see an object as a symbol. Reports that infants between 36 and 39 months old significantly outperformed informed infants between 30 and 32 months old on a symbolic task. (TW)

Reviews a study in which poverty level families received weekly visits by parent educator personnel from the time a child is born to guide the parents in home learning activities for the youngsters. Results indicate fewer youngsters from the program need special education when compared to a control group. (SL)

The use of statistical techniques by behavioral geneticists to divvy up separate genetic and environmental effects on individual traits is examined. The interactions between genes and environment and the effects that are produced between siblings are discussed. (KR)

Describes research which indicates that children delivered via the Leboyer method have been observed to possess higher development quotients, walk earlier, and have less difficulty during the first month of life. The Leboyer theory of tactile stimulation of children by mothers is also discussed. (SL)

Describes current research to determine if newborn infants can discern parents from strangers. An infrared detection technique has found that three to five week old infants focus on the edges of faces while older infants look more into the other person's eyes. Increased eye observation is beleived to be associated with parental identification. (CP)