Charles A. Nelson discusses the impact of early adverse childhood experiences on brain and behavioral development

If we want to help children succeed and thrive so that they can reach their full potential, we need to understand their mental, biological, and emotional needs.

Join Sean Sanders, Director and Senior Editor for Custom Publishing at Science, as he interviews outstanding researchers in a broad range of fields whose work either directly involves the study of children and adolescents or has a significant impact in their lives. Each interviewee is also the recipient of the Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize, awarded by the Jacobs Foundation, that recognizes exceptional achievements in the field of child and youth development.

Listen to the full series

Episode 11: What are the impacts of childhood adversity?

What are the benefits of being raised in high quality foster care as an alternative to institutional care? Why do some children appear to cope with adversity better than others? How might caregivers build resilience in children?

Listen in as Sean finds out the answers to these questions and more with today’s guest, Charles A. Nelson.

Charles A. Nelson is Professor of Pediatrics and Neuroscience and of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, and Professor of Education in the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His work is primarily in the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience and includes research into the development of social perception, the developmental trajectories to autism, and the effects of early adversity on brain and behavioral development.

Visit an online exhibition of Nelson’s work.

Partner