Research in the CaL group is concerned in particular with both ends of the lifespan – cognitive development in both healthy and clinical populations, and cognition and ageing. Work on cognitive development focuses around four main areas: 1) working memory, visual processing and communication in typical children and those with neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. Williams Syndrome, Autism Spectrum disorders), 2) the development of knowledge of ownership and artifact function in children, and 3) the role breakfast plays in child well being and cognitive development. This group forms half of the Northumbria-Newcastle Developmental Psychology Initiative. Research on ageing centres around North East Age Research, which has followed a cohort of people as they get older for almost 30 years (funded by the ESRC and MRC). The main aim of this work is to examine how cognitive abilities change as we age, and how this maps onto other measures, such as health and well being and quality of life. Current projects include work on mind wandering in old age and research examining the mapping between cognitive function, functional living and diabetes as one ages.
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