Social Cognition Lab, University of Miami

Social Interaction Affects Memory Among the many types of information your memory system uses to decide what to remember, new research suggests social interaction influences what you learn.

Memory helps you to remember things that are likely to be important later. Studies suggest that social interaction between people is one cue memory uses. My latest for @psychtoday.bsky.social

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ulte...

This week was full of firsts ✨.
From testing the first baby for my PhD project, to presenting my work for the first time to my host lab - the @soccoglab.bsky.social (UM), and even giving my first Guest Lecture (thank you, Arushi!)🎓.
I am really grateful for all the support I am receiving here 💚🧡

Two children walking hand in hand.

Don't miss out on our 5-9-year-old kid scientist study! Sign up by November 30th for our 1-hour visit to play fun games and receive these prizes: a tote bag, magnet, toy, and $25 Amazon gift card. Reserve your spot today! SCL@miami.edu

Big ideas in 180 seconds The 10th Annual Three Minute Thesis Competition showcased graduate students across the University of Miami presenting research in fields ranging from medicine and computer engineering to literature an...

Congrats, Dr. @tiffany6390.bsky.social! 👏

news.miami.edu/stories/2025...

Eleven smiling infants surrounded by fall leaves and a cat saying thank you

We've had a busy fall with these infant scientists! 🍂 Reach out if you'd like to participate with your baby: SCL@miami.edu.

Individual differences in sick face sensitivity: females are more sensitive to lassitude facial expressions than males - @tiffany6390.bsky.social

Free for the next 50 days: urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...

A&S - Psychology - Assistant Professor to Assoc. Professor - Child Clinical/Family Current Employees: If you are a current Staff, Faculty or Temporary employee at the University of Miami, please click here to log in to Workday to use the internal application process. To learn how to...

We're hiring at the University of Miami! The Department of Psychology is looking for a Child Clinical Psychology faculty member. As search chair, my contact info is in the job ad if anybody would like to discuss the position further umiami.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UMFaculty/jo...

University of Miami joins international study on autism risk in young children Psychologists in the College of Arts and Sciences are monitoring the development of infants and toddlers whose parents have a sibling with autism.

We are starting a new longitudinal study at the University of Miami! news.miami.edu/as/stories/2...

Drawing of an infant getting an ABR screening, and two different waveforms shown, one for typical and one for infants later dying of SIDS, pointing towards early detection risk identification and potential intervention, showing a baby sleeping.

Stage 2 report now out! Newborn Auditory Brainstem Response and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome doi.org/10.1002/jnr.... #OpenAccess

Automated detection of mouth opening in newborn infants - Behavior Research Methods Automated behavioral measurement using machine learning is gaining ground in psychological research. Automated approaches have the potential to reduce the labor and time associated with manual behavio...

First human newborn paper from my NSF CAREER Award! Automated detection of mouth opening in newborn infants - with our amazing @umiamipsych.bsky.social team: Guangyu Zung, Yeojin Amy Ahn, @tiffany6390.bsky.social, @semaylott.bsky.social, Arushi Malik, @dmessinger.bsky.social doi.org/10.3758/s134...

Congratulations Amelia, Norik & Tiffany this year’s recipients of the Gail Ironson Distinguished Speaker Series Colloquium & Awards!

This annual award recognizes outstanding research efforts by graduate students in psychology.

Social brain network is already active at birth New research provides insight into the brain processes that underlie social behaviors later in life.

New research finds that a brain network active at birth is linked to social behavior later in life.

www.futurity.org/brain-networ...

Join @dmessinger.bsky.social in our developmental psychology PhD program! #PsychSciSky

Got a ‘Little Lawyer’ at Home? Their Rule-Bending Might Be a Social Strength A new study finds that when young kids find loopholes, or sneaky work-arounds, for instructions, they must apply advanced social and language skills

When children find loopholes for instructions, they apply advanced social & language skills
www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-...

The Body’s Band: How Heart and Brain Communicate Illustration of a person with vitiligo practicing yoga, sitting cross-legged and stretching an arm over their head. In a thought bubble, a smiling brain sings into a microphone and a heart plays a dru...

🧠🫀 New from our lab on Frontiers for Young Minds:

Ever wondered how the heart and brain communicate? Think the heart as the drummer 🥁 & the brain as the singer 🎤 keeping the body's band in tune!

Read here (for ages 8–15): kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2025.1536787/full
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Six smiling babies. Background has cartoon pumpkin pie and fall leaves.

Thanks to these cute pumpkins for supporting science! 🎃 Want to learn more? Visit: scl.psy.miami.edu/for-parents/
#ScienceMatters #KidScience #Fall2025

Our lab director wrote a new paper. Thanks to all the families who contributed to these discoveries!

Seven smiling women in two rows on red couch with colorful bird painting in the background.

Meet our fabulous fall 2025 team! 💚🧡 Back row: Nashmia, Arushi, Shuo, Tiffany. Front row: Anastassia, Georgia, Isa. #WomenInSTEM #DevelopmentalScience #UMiami

Can adults be trained to better recognize and avoid sick faces? New research from the Department of Psychology at the University of Miami looks at the efficacy of training adults to recognize sick faces.

Can adults be trained to better recognize and avoid sick faces? New research findings from our lab, led by PhD student Tiffany Leung (@Tiffany6390.bsky.social)! @UMiamiPsych.bsky.social @UnivMiami.bsky.social #SickSelfie news.miami.edu/as/stories/2...

scl.psy.miami.edu/for-parents/... #MiamiBaby #MiamiKid #UMiami #BabyCane #FutureCane #ScienceMatters

Smiling child photo next to smiling woman photo

Welcome to our #BabyCanes team, Anastassia Somerville! She’s a junior studying psyc. From Santiago, Chile, moved to Miami when she was 10 & loves it. Passionate about understanding human behavior. Enjoys traveling, staying active, & exploring new matcha spots with family & friends.

INTERESTED IN APPLYING TO OUR DOCTORAL PROGRAMS?

Applications for Fall 2026 admission will be accepted from September 01, 2025 - December 01, 2025.

ALL application materials must be received no later than DECEMBER 01, 2025.

psy.miami.edu/graduate/how...

Newborns may have innate sense of prosocial behaviour | BPS Newborn babies seem able to distinguish between prosocial and non-social behaviour in new study, though questions remain.

How early can we tell if someone (or something) is behaving in a prosocial way? A new study suggests that we may have the ability from birth: www.bps.org.uk/research-dig...

Kids and family festival. In benefit of I am MDC fundraising drive. Sat, Aug 16, 10am. Open to the public. Learn, play, and grow! Kids activities, business expo, bounce houses, giveaways, performances, face painting, food, and more! Until supplies last. Free entrance. 1780 West 49th Street, Hialeah, Florida 33012.

Flyer in Spanish. Pics of kids having fun.

Kids & Family Festival is tomorrow — Learn about our paid research studies for kids & spin our fun wheel to win a prize! ✨ Miami Dade College - Hialeah Campus #MiamiKid #UMiami #ScienceMatters

Infants show lower stress when carried by mothers instead of being in a stroller, study finds New research shows that infants carried in chest carriers had lower stress levels and slept longer than those in strollers. The study also found that mothers felt less stressed indoors, suggesting differences in how environments and closeness affect parent-infant well-being.

Infants show lower stress when carried by mothers instead of being in a stroller, study finds

First page of newsletter (preview), mostly text. Click link.

We are pleased to share with you the Summer 2025 UM Department of Psychology Newsletter.

Read here: www.yumpu.com/en/document/...

Six smiling infants surrounded by a seashell border. Says thank you in the middle.

Discover summer fun while supporting science! 🐚 Learn about online and in-person studies for kids: umiami.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... #MiamiBaby #SummerVibes

Picture of a baby poking out their tongue. University of Miami Infant and Child Studies. Help us learn about children’s social development! Eligibility: ages 0-10. Online and in person studies in Miami. Earn up to $50 per visit. Email us: SCL@ Miami.edu. Text or call us: 305-349-3351.

Appointments available - Reserve one for your child & #SupportScience at #UMiami! #ScienceMatters umiami.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

#PsychSciSky #ScienceMatters #WomenInSTEM #BlackInSTEM