Ongoing research in my laboratory investigates developmental changes in working memory capacity, with capacity defined as both duration of delay and amount of information retained. Recent research in my laboratory indicates a significant change during the first year in expectations about the location of upcoming visual events and about the timing of upcoming visual events. An important implication of our work on cognitive development is that behaviors suggesting memory and expectations are the basis for the inference that infants behave intentionally. One important aspect of infant intentionality is that parents should be sensitive to the infant's intentionality and should take the infant's level of intentionality into account in their interactions with the infant. We are currently exploring the relation between parent perception and infant behavior, both concurrently and predictively.
Many developmental disabilities become apparent during the third and fourth years of life.
We do not know if there are symptoms that could be detected at younger ages. I am collaborating with colleagues who study fragile X symdrome, autism, and other conditions to look the cognitive profile of infants who are at risk for these disabilities. Early detection of developmental disabilities could lead to improved diagnosis and intervention.