Improving Australia's response to childhood obesity: prevention education and its impact on mothers and families. This project will generate new and more considered approaches to childhood obesity prevention, and in turn ensure future investment of public funds in this area best supports children's health.
Early puberty and brain development: exploring the neurobiology of adolescent mental health. Pubertal-onset mental disorders are the largest contributor to later adult mental disorders. However, compared to other phases of development, puberty and its disorders remain poorly understood. This study, by examining the neurobiological consequences of early exposure to puberty, will enhance our understanding of these pubertal risk processes.
Young infants' representations of 'What' and 'Where'. This project will clarify how the world looks though a young infant's eyes by measuring infant brain activity and observing their eye movements. The project will provide scientists and parents with a fuller understanding of what it means to be an infant and what develops between infancy and adulthood.
Enhancing learning capacity and academic outcomes using novel game technology in primary school children with developmental disabilities. Childhood inattention has been linked with poor academic outcomes and reduced social inclusion. In children with developmental disabilities improving poor attention skills is essential. The project aims to provide a novel and engaging evidence-based intervention program delivered as a portable, interactive game accessible in rural and urban communities.
Attentional mechanisms in the relationship between sleep disruption and academic outcomes in Australian school children. This project will assess the impact of sleep problems on attention and academic performance in primary school children. The project will investigate typically developing children and children with developmental disorders over 18 months. The research will advance knowledge of the interplay between sleep, attention and learning across development.
A socio-cultural analysis of eating disorders among pre-teen boys and girls. This project tackles the tough question of why there has been a dramatic increase in eating disorders amongst very young boys and girls by examining the social conditions of children's lives in contemporary Australia. The findings will provide important information for policy makers, educators and clinicians working with children and families.
The development of the social brain in early childhood. This project aims to understand how the human brain develops social and emotional understanding. The brain has remarkable abilities for understanding our social environment, such as inferring other people’s thoughts and feelings. This project will use neuroscience techniques to investigate how brain networks combine to produce social understanding, how this changes throughout child development, and how it relates to complex social behaviour ....The development of the social brain in early childhood. This project aims to understand how the human brain develops social and emotional understanding. The brain has remarkable abilities for understanding our social environment, such as inferring other people’s thoughts and feelings. This project will use neuroscience techniques to investigate how brain networks combine to produce social understanding, how this changes throughout child development, and how it relates to complex social behaviours. This project’s findings could be used to develop educational programmes that enhance empathy and co-operation, strengthen family relationships, promote social inclusion and reduce maladaptive behaviours. It could also guide intervention in brain disorders that affect social understanding.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100042
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$325,000.00
Summary
Multitasking effects on motor control in childhood through adolescence. This project aims to increase knowledge on the development of motor control and its cognitive determinants. The ability to perform cognitive and motor tasks simultaneously is a critical skill for daily living. From childhood to adolescence, and across a range of developmental disorders, simultaneous performance of cognitive and motor tasks represents a major challenge. Children with cognitive and motor coordination problems ....Multitasking effects on motor control in childhood through adolescence. This project aims to increase knowledge on the development of motor control and its cognitive determinants. The ability to perform cognitive and motor tasks simultaneously is a critical skill for daily living. From childhood to adolescence, and across a range of developmental disorders, simultaneous performance of cognitive and motor tasks represents a major challenge. Children with cognitive and motor coordination problems show increased inattention, hyperactivity, psychosocial difficulties and negative perceptions of self-worth. This project aims to investigate how the cognitive demands of balance control during walking changes from childhood to adolescence. The results may help to identify the mechanisms underlying childhood disorders associated with comorbid cognitive and motor impairments and provide strategies for earlier identification.Read moreRead less
Prospective predictors of body image attitudes and dieting beliefs during first years of school: Providing guidance for prevention. Although it is recognised that body dissatisfaction is a risk factor for the development of a wide range of mental health problems, little is known about its early development. There is a distinct increase in body dissatisfaction and dieting awareness during early school years. However, there has not been an exploration of a wide range of family, media, peer and sch ....Prospective predictors of body image attitudes and dieting beliefs during first years of school: Providing guidance for prevention. Although it is recognised that body dissatisfaction is a risk factor for the development of a wide range of mental health problems, little is known about its early development. There is a distinct increase in body dissatisfaction and dieting awareness during early school years. However, there has not been an exploration of a wide range of family, media, peer and school adaptation variables as predictors of body image and weight change behaviours in both girls and boys. This project will examine prospective predictors of body image and related variables in five to seven years old children. Findings will inform development of prevention interventions to assist parents and schools provide a positive body image and eating environment for Australian children.Read moreRead less
Addressing risk factors of overweight and obesity among adolescents in out-of-home care: The Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) study. The health risk of overweight and obesity when adolescents are placed in out-of-home care has been largely ignored. This project will be the first to evaluate a healthy eating and physical activity obesity prevention/intervention program designed specifically for vulnerable and disadvantaged adolescents living in out-of-home residential care.