SANDPIT Research Group

Research group studying neurocognitive development in childhood with a focus on #autism #ADHD & #behavioural traits | Led by @Rachael_Bedford

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

Check out our other socials for all things Animating Minds!

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

Have you seen the new UK Government guidance on children's screen times? Check out this breakdown!

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

👶 Do you have a child aged 3 or 6?

Join our UK-wide online kids study

📺 Watch cartoons + 🎮 play simple games

⏱ 15–20 mins/day for 18 days

🎁 £50 voucher for completing the full study

Run by UAL & Queen Mary University

Sign up below:
🔗 https://t.co/SYkQNJuHHe

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

Our Animating Minds project investigates executive functioning…but what exactly is it? And how does executive functioning develop across your life? 📈👶🧠

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

Almost instantly, babies are learning how the social world works - forming the foundations of communication 📷

At QM BabyLab, we study how these abilities emerge and grow!

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

Happy World Thinking Day! 🧠🌎

Today is all about thinking about how humans understand each other - and when that begins!

#worldthinkingday

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

It's Child Mental Health Awareness Week!

This week is all about raising awareness of children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Just like physical health, mental health matters from the very beginning - let's keep talking about it! 🤝

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

As January comes to an end, here are some of our plans for 2026! 🔍

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

Here are some fun baby brain facts you might not know!

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

Four things you didn't know about infant attention!🧐

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

A couple of weeks ago the Animating Minds team had a day out at Winter Wonderland! ❄️🎄

We even won some furry friends that took the train home! 🧸💺

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

Now that Christmas is fast approaching, here are some fun facts about how the festive period can support child development! 🎄

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

Today is International Disability Day! 🌍

Sofia, a PhD candidate here at QM, is exploring how children’s animation affects the cognition of neurodivergent children.

Read about her project below! ⬇️

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

You might’ve heard that people are either left-brained, making them logical, or right-brained, making them creative…but this is not the case! 🧠

We are all constantly using both sides of our brain!

Did you believe this myth? 🔍

[Rachael Bedford @Rachael_Bedford]

At the House of Lords with @timothy_j_smith to discuss the need for evidence-based #screentime guidance in the early years with Baroness Joanna Penn. @UKRI_News #AnimatingMinds, @NuffieldFound #BedtimeBoost.

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

Welcome to our labs at Queen Mary!

The first lab is our Child Development Lab. This is a ‘chill out’ space or waiting area for children and parents. The second lab is the Eye Tracking Lab. Eye tracking will be used to see how animations are impacting executive functioning!

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

Meet the team currently working on the Animating Minds Project as part of Queen Mary's Child Development Lab!

The aim of the project is to investigate the impact of children's animation features on the executive functions of children using eye tracking and fNIRS technology🧠

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

Team meeting for our @UKRI_News Animating Minds project, followed by leaving celebrations for our amazing @UniofBath placement students @CrystalMazeHQ.

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

Come and join our lab! Postdoc and RA position available - details below

[Rachael Bedford @Rachael_Bedford]

Advertising 2 new positions in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. A postdoc & an RA @QM_Psych @QMUL as part of our @UKRI_News funded Animating Minds Project. More details and how to apply here:
Postdoc: https://t.co/BbZ4xnBMO6
RA: https://t.co/gJMwVcIh6w

[SANDPIT Research Group @sandpit_lab]

Come and join our lab with this fully funded PhD position.

[Rachael Bedford @Rachael_Bedford]

Fully funded PhD @QMUL @QM_Psych on ‘Children’s Media and the Neurodivergent Mind’. More details and how to apply here:
https://t.co/fxzeZALyhg