Jove
Visualize
Contact Us

Related Concept Videos

Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

852
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
852
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

641
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
641
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

1.0K
Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
1.0K
Biological Influences on Intelligence01:30

Biological Influences on Intelligence

613
Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter...
613
The Nativist Approach01:21

The Nativist Approach

492
The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to...
492
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development01:14

Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

2.0K
The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
2.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Religiousness, sexual orientation, and depression among emerging adults in U.S. higher education: Findings from the Healthy Minds Study.

PLOS mental health·2026
Same author

Correction: Religiousness, sexual orientation, and depression among emerging adults in U.S. higher education: Findings from the Healthy Minds Study.

PLOS mental health·2026
Same author

Circulating Neutrophil and Monocyte Counts Are Inversely Associated With Heart Rate Variability Indices: The Maastricht Study.

Journal of the American Heart Association·2026
Same author

Multifunctional Conductive Hydrogels: Design Strategies and Applications in Wearable Sensors and Flexible Supercapacitors.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026
Same author

Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic outcomes of surgically treated neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma: A single institution retrospective analysis.

International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics·2025
Same author

A dual-fluorescence analytical strategy using nano fiber probe mediated optofluidic dual-laser biosensor for simultaneous and sensitive detection of ricin and abrin.

Talanta·2025
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

88.1K

The relation between cesarean birth and child cognitive development.

Cain Polidano1, Anna Zhu2, Joel C Bornstein3

  • 1Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, Level 5, Faculty of Business and Economics Building, University of Melbourne, Carlton, 3010, Australia. cainp@unimelb.edu.au.

Scientific Reports
|September 15, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Cesarean birth is linked to slightly lower cognitive performance in children compared to vaginal birth. This association persists after accounting for various factors, suggesting potential mechanisms beyond known risks.

More Related Videos

External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?
08:49

External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?

Published on: June 6, 2020

15.9K
Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development
05:44

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development

Published on: May 17, 2024

1.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

88.1K
External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?
08:49

External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?

Published on: June 6, 2020

15.9K
Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development
05:44

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development

Published on: May 17, 2024

1.2K

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatric Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Cesarean birth rates have increased globally.
  • The long-term cognitive implications of cesarean birth are not well understood.
  • Existing research often lacks control for confounding factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between cesarean birth and child cognitive development.
  • To quantify cognitive differences between cesarean-born and vaginally-born children.
  • To explore potential mediating factors for observed cognitive gaps.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from the nationally representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC).
  • Inclusion of 3,666 children, assessed between 4 and 9 years of age.
  • Multivariate regression models controlling for perinatal risks and socioeconomic factors.

Main Results:

  • Cesarean-born children demonstrated significantly lower cognitive performance compared to vaginally-born children.
  • A cognitive gap of up to 0.1 standard deviation was observed in national numeracy test scores at ages 8-9.
  • Findings were robust in low-risk subsamples, suggesting genuine association rather than unobserved confounding.

Conclusions:

  • Cesarean birth is associated with a small but significant deficit in child cognitive development.
  • Mediating factors like breastfeeding and maternal/child health explain less than one-third of the gap.
  • Other mechanisms, potentially including gut microbiota alterations, may be involved.
  • A cautious approach is recommended for planned cesarean births without clear medical indications.