In this episode we review a paper from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University that explores the development of executive function skills in young children. Executive functions, encompassing working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility, are crucial for cognitive and social development. The paper details how early experiences, both positive and negative, significantly shape the development of these skills, influencing brain architecture and long-term outcomes. Adverse experiences, such as abuse, neglect, and poverty, can impair executive function development, while supportive environments foster their growth. Finally, the paper examines effective interventions designed to improve executive function skills in young children, highlighting their importance for school readiness and overall well-being.

This episode features a systematic review assessing the effectiveness of online, parent-implemented interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), specifically focusing on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Cerebral Palsy (CP), and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The researchers examined 12 interventions across 15 studies, evaluating their quality and efficacy using the Downs and Black checklist. While preliminary findings suggest promise for ASD and ADHD interventions, the overall study highlighted a need for more rigorous, large-scale research to determine which interventions meet evidence-based criteria. The review also reveals a significant gap in research concerning CP and FASD.

Stanley Milgram's obedience experiments, discussed in this episode, investigated the extent to which individuals would obey an authority figure's instructions, even if those instructions involved harming another person. The experiments involved participants administering increasingly intense simulated electric shocks to a learner, revealing a surprisingly high level of obedience. Subsequent analyses examined variations in the experimental setup, exploring the influence of factors like location, proximity, and social support on obedience rates. Ethical concerns, particularly regarding informed consent and potential psychological harm to participants, are also extensively discussed. We also consider current implications for obedience to authority and how easily we can ignore our own moral compass. Finally, the episode explores replications of the experiment and their implications for understanding human behavior and the power of situational factors.