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Psychology and Neuroscience in Education

Focus

The Psychology and Neuroscience Group brings the perspectives of cognitive psychology, neuroscience and socio-cultural theory to key issues in Education, focusing upon language, learning, and communication. Its research informs practice in Education, and theoretical understanding in Psychology and Neuroscience. Since its foundation in 2004, the group has attracted over £3 million of external research funding, from ESRC, MRC, EU Framework VI, Nuffield Foundation, Esmee Fairbairn Trust and the Healthcare Trust. The Faculty has a Centre dedicated to Neuroscience in Education.

Research projects within PNE include:

  • ChAT (Children Articulating Thinking) - Developing a pedagogy for metacognition and self-regulation - Dr David Whitebread (PI), Professor Neil Mercer, Penny Coltman, Jane Warwick, Professor Christine Howe & Professor Usha Goswami
  • Cognitive neuroscience of the development of numerical cognition and developmental dyscalculia. Supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council (2009-2012)
    Dr Denes Szucs (PI)
  • Cognitive neuroscience of cognitive control and attention and their development - Dr Denes Szucs (PI)
  • Thinking Together Project - Professor Neil Mercer (PI): a dialogue-based approach to the development of children's thinking & learning.
  • Dialogic Teaching in the Science Classroom - Professor Neil Mercer (PI): research into teacher-student dialogue in science education.
  • Interactive Whiteboards and Collaborative Pupil Learing in Primary Science - Professor Neil Mercer (PI).
  • Primary school children's tacit and explicit knowledge of object motion - Professor Christine Howe.
  • Independent Learning in the Foundation Stage (C.Ind.Le) - Dr David Whitebread: a study into the independent learning of young children (3-5 year olds) and the development and production of Professional Development guidance and training materials.

For further PNE-linked projects go to Research Interests and Projects
Child with hairnet

Centre for Neuroscience in Education

Research relating to the group's cognitive and neuroscience strand is conducted within the Centre for Neuroscience in Education. The Centre was established in 2005 by Professor Usha Goswami and forms part of the Cambridge Neuroscience Initiative, benefiting from the University's status as world leader in this field. Cambridge is the first Education Faculty in the world to have on-site (EEG) neuroimaging facilities dedicated to educational research. Recent or ongoing projects, led by Prof. Usha Goswami and Dr Denes Szucs, focus upon literacy and dyslexia across languages, reasoning by analogy, mathematical cognition and dyscalculia, and executive function.