Empathy is generally described as a multidimensional construct, consisting of cognitive and affective components. Researchers demonstrate that a better ability to understand and express empathy toward others is associated with positive social outcomes such as strong communication skills and meaningful social relationships. For individuals with…

The ability to form associations between words and objects rapidly with a short amount of exposure is a marker of more proficient word learners in typically developing (TD) infants. Investigating the underlying mechanisms for how words are associated with objects is necessary for understanding early word learning in the TD population as well as in…

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder that adversely impacts child development and health conditions, and is often associated with significant behavioral challenges. In particular, children with PWS typically exhibit extremely high levels of maladaptive behavior (e.g., excessive food seeking, hording, and binging; temper tantrums;…