Principals set the tone and create visions for innovation and change. Mounting research about the brain tempered with cautions of over interpretations can aid the principals to provide leadership in implementing more brain compatible schools. Practical strategies encompass the emotional environment of the school, policies, and procedures that…

Studies show that 65-85% of mothers hold their infants on the left side of their own body and that this left-bias may be reduced or reversed when mothers have symptoms similar to depression or dysphoria (de Chateau, Holmberg, & Winberg, 1978). No studies, however, have used diagnostic criteria to assess the mother's psychological state. The…

The recruitment of international students as skilled migrants is increasing in many countries, and most notably in Australia, where the Commonwealth government's immigration and international education policies are now closely aligned. There are three factors that make international students attractive migrants. First, they increase the recruiting…

This article highlights the defining principles, progress and future directions in developmental psychopathology in relation to this special section. Six fundamental principles of developmental psychopathology are identified and the pervasive impact of this integrative framework on research, theory, and practice in behavioral health fields over…

The authors explore the division of labor between the basal ganglia-dopamine (BG-DA) system and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in decision making. They show that a primitive neural network model of the BG-DA system slowly learns to make decisions on the basis of the relative probability of rewards but is not as sensitive to (a) recency or (b) the…

Science-technology circles were powerfully shaken three years ago by the granting of annual subsidies of one hundred thousand yuan to specially invited professors when the "Changjiang Scholars" Program set up by Li Ka-Shing and the Ministry of Education started up. Today, another big uproar has been triggered by Qinghua University's…

The study of neurobehavioral development focuses on the mechanisms through which the experiences of an individual influence the ontogeny of brain circuits that ultimately control complex functions, such as social engagement, mood and emotional regulation and cognition. Advances in experimental approaches and technologies provide opportunities to…

The author notes that teachers who continually require students to sit still and stop talking apparently prefer to teach a grove of trees rather than a classroom full of students. School environments should be designed to enhance the development of student brains -- and student brains are about movement, not motionless stagnation. 21st century…

This report combines neuroscience, child development research, and program evaluation data to better inform policymakers' decisions about investing in and supporting existing early childhood programs. Core child development concepts highlight the importance of early experiences on the development of brain architecture and, in turn, future…

The present work investigated cognitive, linguistic and narrative abilities in a group of children suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, an allelic X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin. The patients showed mildly reduced IQ with lower Verbal than Performance Intelligence Quotient and were mildly…

Nonverbal communication in the classroom can produce subtle nonverbal influences, particularly in the affective domain. In Suggestopedia, double-planeness (the role of the environment and the personality of the teacher) is considered an important factor in learning. Suggestopedic teachers are trained to use nonverbal gestures in their presentation…

Despite recent increased attention to Asperger's Syndrome (AS), few psychometric investigations of subjects have appeared and few studies have examined how clinicians and educators might better address the needs of this unique group of people. A diagnosis of AS according to the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" requires…

This document consists of four issues of the quarterly report "Alaska's Children," which provides information on the Alaska Head Start State Collaboration Project and updates on Head Start activities in Alaska. Regular features in the issues include a calendar of conferences and meetings, a status report on Alaska's children, reports…

This Kids Count special report examines brain development during infancy and early childhood in order to provide a basis for an informed discussion about the need for preventive programs to foster healthy child development. The report summarizes information on early brain development and how experience shapes neural connections. It focuses on the…

First published in 1985, this revised edition focuses on diversity in education, exploring differences in style to help educators better fulfill their responsibilities and assist people in realizing their potential. Among the new chapters are a discussion of the importance of knowledge about students' culture, learning styles in light of recent…