Category: Resources for Researchers

Pretend Play, Imaginary Friends, + Executive Function

What does a child’s relationship with their imaginary friends say about them? In this episode of “The Real Guide to Imaginary Companions” by SciFri, Dr. Stephanie Carlson explains how pretend play can help children perform better in tasks of self-control and creativity. See the video here.

Measuring Executive Function Skills: U of MN Feature

Reflection Sciences, a provider of training and tools for measuring executive function skills and promoting their healthy development, was featured on the front page of the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development’s magazine! Read about Executive Function’s growing importance and the story of how Reflection Sciences, Inc. came to be. See the full…

The Impact of Father-Figure Support on Executive Function

Our own Alyssa Meuwissen, along with Michelle Englund, recently published their study, “Executive Function in at-risk children: Importance of Father-Figure Support and Mother Parenting” in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. See the article here.

Promoting EF Skills with Reflection Training

Dr. Phil Zelazo explains how a child’s problem-solving abilities, memory, executive function skills, and impulse control can be fostered by reflection training. See the video here.

An Experiment in Mindfulness Training

Dr. Phil Zelazo explains how teaching calming and mindfulness training can help to improve attention, self-awareness, and perspective taking in children. See the video here.

Explaining Executive Function Science

Co-Founder Dr. Phil Zelazo was interviewed about executive function science and brain development for the Minnesota Health Care News, January, 2016. Read the interview here.