The DOI matches its Crossref record; 44 of the 45 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Developmental science and the media: Early brain development.
Abstract
Media coverage of early brain development not only has focused public attention on early childhood but also has contributed to misunderstanding of developmental neuroscience research. This article critically summarizes current research in developmental neuroscience that is pertinent to the central claims of media accounts of early brain development, including (a) scientific understanding of formative early experiences, (b) whether critical periods are typical for brain development, (c) brain development as a lifelong process, (d) biological hazards to early brain growth, and (e) strengths and limits of current technology in developmental brain research. Recommendations are offered for strengthening the constructive contributions of research scientists and their professional organizations to the accurate and timely coverage of scientific issues in the media.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“components of the limbic system such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and the pathways to the prefrontal cortex from these structures develop rapidly over the first years of life”
From The Differential Impacts of Early Physical and Sexual Abuse and Internalizing Problems on Daytime Cortisol Rhythm in School-Aged Children (2010) · cites this paper as Thompson & Nelson, 2001
Citations
Cites
Neurogenesis in the adult human hippocampus
Eriksson, P. S., Perfilieva, E., Björk-Eriksson, T., Alborn, A.-M., Nordborg, C., Peterson, D. A., & Gage, F. H. (1998) · Nature Medicine · doi:10.1038/3305 · Cited by 6,369
From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development
(2000) · doi:10.17226/9824 · Cited by 4,484
Synaptic density in human frontal cortex —Developmental changes and effects of aging
Peter R., H. (1979) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0006-8993(79)90349-4 · Cited by 2,645
Handbook of infant development
Osofsky, J. D. (1979) · Cited by 2,263
Increased Cortical Representation of the Fingers of the Left Hand in String Players
Elbert, T. R., Pantev, C., Wienbruch, C., Rockstroh, B. S., & Taub, E. (1995) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.270.5234.305 · Cited by 2,053
Neurogenesis in the Neocortex of Adult Primates
Gould, E., Reeves, A. J., Graziano, M. S. A., & Gross, C. G. (1999) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.286.5439.548 · Cited by 1,262
Handbook of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
(2008) · The MIT Press eBooks · doi:10.7551/mitpress/7437.001.0001 · Cited by 1,191
Concurrent overproduction of synapses in diverse regions of the primate cerebral cortex
Rakic, P., Bourgeois, J.-P., Eckenhoff, M. F., Zecevic, N., & Goldman-Rakic, P. S. (1986) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.3952506 · Cited by 1,133
Usable Knowledge, Social Science and Social Problem Solving
Lindblom, C. E., Cohen, D. K., & WARFIELD, J. N. (1980) · IEEE Transactions on Systems Man and Cybernetics · doi:10.1109/tsmc.1980.4308493 · Cited by 1,061
Social Science Research and Decision-Making.
Conklin, G. H., Weiss, C. H., & Bucuvalas, M. J. (1982) · Social Forces · doi:10.2307/2578408 · Cited by 540
Neurogenesis in adulthood: a possible role in learning
Gould, E. (1999) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/s1364-6613(99)01310-8 · Cited by 432
Sensitive periods in development: Structural characteristics and causal interpretations.
Bornstein, M. H. (1989) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.105.2.179 · Cited by 377
Harris, J. R. (1998) · Free Press eBooks · Cited by 296
Knowledge and Policy: The Uncertain Connection.
Sills, D. L., & Lynn, L. E. (1980) · Contemporary Sociology A Journal of Reviews · doi:10.2307/2065641 · Cited by 256
Friedman, S. M., Dunwoody, S., & Rogers, C. L. (2012) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781410601360 · Cited by 246
Induction of brain structure by experience: Substrates for cognitive development.
Greenough, W. T., & Black, J. (1992) · Cited by 244
Child Development and Neuroscience.
Nelson, C. A., & Bloom, F. E. (1997) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1997.tb01974.x · Cited by 236
Self-citationBourgeois, J., Jastreboff, P. J., & RAKIC, P. T. (1989) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.86.11.4297 · Cited by 215
Neural plasticity and human development: the role of early experience in sculpting memory systems
Nelson, C. A. (2000) · Developmental Science · doi:10.1111/1467-7687.00104 · Cited by 212
Self-citationCritical Thinking about Critical Periods: Perspectives on a Critical Period for Language Acquisition
Newport, E. L., Bavelier, D., & Neville, H. J. (2002) · The MIT Press eBooks · doi:10.7551/mitpress/4108.003.0038 · Cited by 187
Neural plasticity and human development
Nelson, C. A. (1999) · Current Directions in Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/1467-8721.00010 · Cited by 144
Self-citationThe Myth of the First Three Years
Bruer, J. T. (1999) · Cited by 132
Developmental behavioral neuroscience
Gunnar, M. R., & Nelson, C. A. (1992) · Lawrence Erlbaum Associates eBooks · Cited by 131
Self-citationScientific Barriers to the Popularization of Science in the Mass Media
Dunwoody, S., & Ryan, M. G. (1985) · Journal of Communication · doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.1985.tb01882.x · Cited by 110
Maturational windows and adult cortical plasticity
Julesz, B., & Kovács, I. (1995) · Addison-Wesley eBooks · Cited by 110
Scientists, Journalists, and the Meaning of Uncertainty
Chubin, D. E. (2012) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781410601360-10 · Cited by 97
Reforming the Law: Impact of Child Development Research.
Mertz, E. E., & Melton, G. B. (1989) · Contemporary Sociology A Journal of Reviews · doi:10.2307/2073867 · Cited by 71
Reporting of social science in the national media
(1989) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.26-5128 · Cited by 60
Miller, W. H., & Hyatt, M. C. (1992) · The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse · doi:10.3109/00952999209026065 · Cited by 55
Calvin, W. H. (1980) · Cited by 55
Reporting Social Science in the National Media
Williams, B. R., Weiss, C. H., & Singer, E. (1990) · Journal of Policy Analysis and Management · doi:10.2307/3325294 · Cited by 49
Public Information Persons as Mediators between Scientists and Journalists
Dunwoody, S., & Ryan, M. G. (1983) · Journalism Quarterly · doi:10.1177/107769908306000410 · Cited by 42
Reflections on Science and the Media
Richardson, J., & Goodfield, J. (1983) · Leonardo · doi:10.2307/1574970 · Cited by 41
Child development and social policy
Zigler, E. (1999) · Cited by 30
Science and the press: Like oil and water?
McCall, R. B. (1988) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.43.2.87 · Cited by 26
How Important are the First 3 Years of Life?
Nelson, C. A. (1999) · Applied Developmental Science · doi:10.1207/s1532480xads0304_8 · Cited by 20
Self-citationThe Roles of Experience in Different Developmental Information Stage Processes
Greenough, W. T., & Alcantara, A. A. (1993) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-015-8234-6_1 · Cited by 10
Applications of magnetic resonance imaging to the study of development
Casey, B. J., Thomas, K. M., & McCandliss, B. D. (2001) · Cited by 8
Nutritional and Environmental Interactions in Brain Development
Brain, M., & Gibson Kathleen, R. (2017) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315082028-5 · Cited by 8
Basic psychiatric science and treatment
Alessi, N. E. (1998) · Wiley eBooks · Cited by 7
Making No Portraits: T. S. Eliot, Mimesis and the Politics of Mediterranean Classicism
Thompson, D. M. (1998) · Comparative Literature · doi:10.2307/1771218 · Cited by 2
Reporting on the Changing Science of Human Behavior
Griffin, R. J. (2012) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781410601360-16 · Cited by 2
Huttenlocher (1997) · doi:10.1002/(sici)1096-9861(19971020)387:2
Attachment disturbances and disorders in children exposed to early severe deprivation
O'Connor, T. G., Bredenkamp, D., Rutter, M., & The English and Romanian Adoptees (ERA) Study Team (1999) · Infant Mental Health Journal · doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0355(199921)20:1
Research works printed but not linked: 8
- Blakeslee, 1996, The biology of soul murder., U.S. News & World Report, 71
- Caplan, 1976, Social research and national policy: What gets used, by whom, for what purposes, and with what effects?, International Social Science Journal, 28, 187
- Melton, 1987, Reforming the law.
- Muenchow, 1996, The role of the media in child and family policy., 394
- 10.2307/1132045 · DOI
- Shore, 1997, Rethinking the brain.
- Thompson, Sensitive periods in attachment? in press
- Weiss, 1987, The diffusion of social science research to policymakers: an overview., 63
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Developmental potential in the first 5 years for children in developing countries
Grantham-McGregor, S., Cheung, Y. B., Cueto, S., Glewwe, P., Richter, L., & Strupp, B. (2007) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(07)60032-4 · Cited by 3,630
Aronson, J., Fried, C. B., & Good, C. (2002) · Journal of Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1006/jesp.2001.1491 · Cited by 1,889
Imaging the developing brain: what have we learned about cognitive development?
CASEY, B., TOTTENHAM, N., LISTON, C., & DURSTON, S. (2005) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2005.01.011 · Cited by 1,556
A developmental psychopathology perspective on adolescence.
Cicchetti, D., & Rogosch, F. A. (2002) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.70.1.6 · Cited by 1,243
Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development—Folate Review
Bailey, L. B., Stover, P. J., McNulty, H., Fenech, M. F., Gregory, J. F., Mills, J. L., Pfeiffer, C. M., Fazili, Z., Zhang, M., Ueland, P. M., et al. (2015) · Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.3945/jn.114.206599 · Cited by 1,170
Metadata
- Authors
- Thompson, R. A., & Nelson, C. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln (US)
- Venue
- American Psychologist
- Published
- 2001
- Volume
- 56
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 5-15
- ISSN
- 0003-066X (ISSN-L)
- 1935-990X
- OpenAlex
- W2074254586
- Cited by
- 556
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 22
- FWCI
- 2.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Psychologist (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Social Sciences › Communication › News Media Framing and Political Communication
- Keywords
- early brain development, media coverage of science, developmental neuroscience, critical period, science communication, public understanding of neuroscience
- MeSH terms
- Brain, Child, Child Development, Child, Preschool, Humans, Mass Media
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
