A human experiment within a human experiment – learn about ground-breaking new research into early childhood brain development.
Hundreds of children are having their brain development tracked in early childhood, between six months and five years. Scientists will be looking at what point critical skills such as inhibitory control are developed. They want to get a better understanding of how children develop skills that support their learning, social development, language development, working memory etc. to be able to provide the best support for babies, toddlers and young children. As Dr Holmboe, lead researcher based at the University of Bristol explains: “This is the groundwork that will help us support children at the right time.” 1
The study uses data from scientific games and MRI scans taken at six months, three years and five years. Parents are also invited to take part in the scientific games mentioned.
What makes this research unique?
One of the key reasons for the project being dubbed ‘pioneering’ is that it is an experiment within an experiment. Three hundred of the children within it have parents whose health has been monitored since the 1990s as part of a different research project, The ‘Children of the 90s’. This unique project has followed its participants for 35 years, collating a huge amount of health insights from pregnancy, to mental health to long COVID.
Professor Jean Golding OBE, who started the study, explains: “The amount of information we’ve got now is world-beating, nobody’s got anything like it. And as a result all sorts of different scientists can answer questions that can’t be answered any other way.” 2
Scientists hope that the additional ‘lifetime of data’ from the ‘Children of the 90s’ project can enrich this current research, and say the data could, “reveal links between the brain development of the children being studied now and the health, experiences and genetics of their parents.” 1
What are your thoughts?
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References
- Gill, V. (2025) ‘What goes on inside toddlers’ brains? A pioneering project is trying to find out’. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg71z808q9o (Accessed: 14 April 2025)
- Mellen, S. (2021) ‘ Children of the 90s: Bristol’s ‘gift to medicine’ turns 30′. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-56907500 (Accessed: 14 April 2025)
