Adele Diamond

University of British Columbia (UBC)
Canada Research Chair Tier 1 Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

To be successful in life takes flexibility, creativity, self-control, and discipline. Central to all of those are 'executive functions,' For over 30 years, Prof. Adele Diamond, Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at UBC, has been studying executive functions and the region of the brain on which they rely, prefrontal cortex. Her current research is changing our understanding of the prefrontal dopamine system and of gender differences in that, and affecting early education practices about the possibility of intervening early to improve executive functions to head off mental-health and academic problems. Her work has shown that executive functions can be improved in very young children by regular teachers in regular classrooms without expensive equipment. Most recently, Prof. Diamond is turning her attention to the possible roles of play, the arts, dance, storytelling, and physical activity in improving executive functions and academic and mental health outcomes. What nourishes the human spirit may also be best for executive functions.

Working Group

Early Childhood Interventions (ECI)

Additional Information

Email: adele.diamond@ubc.ca
Homepage: www.devcogneuro.com