Brain Development

Inside the Brain: Knowable Series Launch

How does our sense of self persist throughout life, when our bodies, and especially our brains, look and work very differently at various stages of our lives, from infancy to late adulthood? Register for the free, virtual series Inside the Brain: A Lifetime of Change.

How Does the Brain Learn Language?

We communicate with one another using movements (gestures), sounds (speech), and symbols (writing). Language is intrinsically tied to our emotions, social relationships, and many other aspects of cognition. Much is still mysterious about the process. Here’s what we know so far.

How We Learn

The brain is designed to help us learn and remember even before we leave the womb. But how does it do so? And what are the best ways to learn new material?

Our Memories, Our Experiences

The ways the hippocampus grows and how it functions to learn and remember depend greatly on an animal’s life experiences, Dana Grantee Cristina Maria Alberini has found.

Ready to Read?

Neuroimaging confirms the key role of white matter in reading ability, but the translation to the classroom lags. Where does the research stand?

A Comprehensive–and Controlled–Look into Adolescent Brain Development

The US national health institutes have begun a massive, long-term study—starting with nearly 12,000 children—to learn how brains grow, and try to pinpoint why some go off-track.

Functional Imaging of the Fetal Brain

Results from improved techniques—including finding brain tissue in a moving fetus in moving amniotic fluid—add to the argument that the seeds of some disorders are present before birth.

How Does the Brain Develop?

Based on the incredible number and diversity of cells we have as adults, it’s hard to believe we started out as one tiny cell.

How Does the Brain Develop? Grades 9-12

The Evolution of Human Capabilities and Abilities

This article is the first of two that will address the development of the human brain. Both articles examine the biological grounds of human uniqueness.