Dear All,

Our next speaker in the Digital Minds lecture series is Rachael Bedford from the Department of Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London.

Title: Triangulating the impact of digital media on early cognitive development

Date: 06 May 2026, 15:00-16:30 (CEST)

Place: Join the event online via Zoom! Meeting details will be sent to registered participants.

Register here: https://forms.office.com/e/PxBVZHQzfV

Registration closes on 05 May 2026, 23:59!

Join us and stay mindful in the digital age!

Abstract:

The rapid proliferation of digital media throughout the previous decade has fundamentally altered the developmental landscape for preschool-aged children. Establishing a robust understanding of how screen exposure influences cognitive development is essential for formulating evidence-based guidelines for caregivers and early childhood practitioners. This presentation synthesizes findings from our research programme investigating media effects in infants and toddlers. By triangulating effects based on data from a longitudinal laboratory study, a randomised controlled trial (RCT), and experimental designs, we can build a robust evidence-base for the effect on neurocognitive outcomes. Results suggest negative associations between screen use and both sleep quality and attentional control. Further, findings suggest that effects for attention control are moderated by the type of content children view. More work is needed to understand the potentially beneficial effects of high-quality content.