Queen Mary Child Development Lab
We are a research team within the Queen Mary School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences dedicated to investigating early child development. Our focus is on understanding how children’s early interactions with their environment influence later development. Many of our studies take place on site at Queen Mary University of London in the Child Development Lab facility. The lab is family-friendly with: A reception featuring a play area with toys for infants and young children; Baby-changing facilities; and Elevator access for pushchairs.
Our Research
We are interested in charactersing factors that affect children’s cognitive development.
- The Animating Minds Project: The UKRI-funded Animating Minds project aims to investigate the impact of children’s television on the executive functions of 3- and 6-year-olds, using eye-tracking and fNIRS. Read our recent news item here.
Get involved!
At the Queen Mary Child Development Lab, we want to understand how young children develop and the factors which influence this development. The aim of our research is to better characterise factors in the child’s early environment, such as screen time, social interactions and sleep hygiene, which influence their development. The longer-term goal is to use this knowledge to empower parents, caregivers, early years practitioners and policy-makers, to make informed, evidence-based decisions.
In order to complete this research, we need participants! Please get involved by joining our Queen Mary Child Development Lab database, contact us here for more information: childdevlab@qmul.ac.uk
You can take part in:
- Online studies
- In-person lab-based studies
- Public engagement events
Research Methods
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). This brain monitoring technique uses near-infrared light to measure the levels of haemoglobin in the blood, which relates to the level of brain activity within the area. This method helps us understand how children respond to different types of information.
Eye-tracking. This uses a special camera to detect eye movement and track what children are looking at in real-time. This helps us to understand how children interact with the environment by discovering what captures their attention.
Our Team
Prof Rachael Bedford – Child Development Lab lead
Dr Bosiljka Milosavljevic – deputy lead