Sam Wass
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profsamwass.bsky.social
Sam Wass
@profsamwass.bsky.social
110 followers 10 following 29 posts
👶👨‍⚕️Child Psychologist/Neuroscientist🧠, attention and stress, 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Dad of 2, 💻 @ERC_Research Fellow.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Sam Wass
booktrust.org.uk
We loved listening to @profsamwass.bsky.social on Today this morning sharing why books are the perfect form of connection for very young children.

That's why our #ReadingRights campaign highlights the importance of early shared reading.

Listen from 2h25m 🎧

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Today - 09/10/2025 - BBC Sounds
News and current affairs, including Sports Desk, Weather and Thought for the Day.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Reposted by Sam Wass
leverhulme.ac.uk
7. A new project led by @profsamwass.bsky.social records brain activity in babies and toddlers while they’re watching TV to find out. media.leverhulme.ac.uk/feature/swass
A toddler sat on a sofa, resting a digital tablet on their knees, captivated by the screen.
May 29, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Reposted by Sam Wass
booktrust.org.uk
We loved joining @profsamwass.bsky.social & Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social at a Baby Lab to discover what happens to babies' brains when they're read to.

Discover the neuroscience behind shared reading & how it enables children to flourish and thrive:

bit.ly/44YCeMu
A photo of a baby wearing a cap with wires attached being read to, plus the words: "The science behind the benefits of reading for babies"
July 14, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Reposted by Sam Wass
booktrust.org.uk
We’ve had a fantastic day at @hayfestival.bsky.social with our Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social!

He appeared with our President Sir Michael Morpurgo in one event & spoke to @profsamwass.bsky.social about the neuroscience of sharing stories in a #ReadingRights talk!
Sir Michael Morpurgo and Frank Cottrell-Boyce backstage at Hay Festival Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Professor Sam Wass at Hay Festival
May 24, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Reposted by Sam Wass
booktrust.org.uk
Our #ReadingRights report with @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social is out now, because early shared reading is vital.

Frank & our CEO @dianajgerald.bsky.social joined @profsamwass.bsky.social at a Baby Lab to discover the difference it makes - watch the full vid 👇

www.booktrust.org.uk/about-us/rea...
May 22, 2025 at 6:22 AM
profsamwass.bsky.social
To support the launch of
‪@booktrust.org.uk‬'s Reading Rights report today with
‪@frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social‬, here are six neuroscience-informed tips for sharing books with young children 👇
May 21, 2025 at 9:55 AM
profsamwass.bsky.social
Just out 📣 in @JEnvPsych- 'Differential Effects Of An Urban Outdoor Environment On 4-5 Year Old Children’s Attention In School' - with @GemmaGoldenberg, Molly Atkinson,
@jan_dubiel
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
April 17, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Reposted by Sam Wass
britishneuro.bsky.social
The QRR will be hosting a Public Lecture on the benefits of reading at #BNA2025 featuring anncleeves.bsky.social Professor Frank Cottrell-Boyce,
Sally Dynevor and @profsamwass.bsky.social

www.eventbrite.com/e/the-queens...

#readingforwellbeing #publicengagement #thequeensreadingroom
Images of Ann Cleeves, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Sally Dynevor and Sam Wass
April 2, 2025 at 3:37 PM
profsamwass.bsky.social
When it comes to early years screen media – how fast-paced is TOO fast? Just heard 🎉🍾🍾 we got funding from
@LeverhulmeTrust for new project measuring how young brains respond to screen media in real time. With @JuliaDavidson13, Rachel Barr,
@jessen_sarah, @MarriottIra, PLabendzki
March 31, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Reposted by Sam Wass
tesmagazine.bsky.social
How can you improve pupils' concentration in primary classrooms? @profsamwass.bsky.social and Dr Gemma Goldenberg share research-informed interventions ⬇️
3 research-backed tips to improve concentration in primary
The concept of building a ‘mental muscle’ in pupils has been challenged by recent research - so what are the best approaches for improving focus in the classroom?
www.tes.com
March 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
profsamwass.bsky.social
Just out in Nature Communications Psychology - in a multilingual corpus of child-directed songs, the cumulative-compressibility of the lyrics reveals multiscale complexity patterns that could support different relevant functions, e.g. attention, learning and bonding.
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Temporal patterns in the complexity of child-directed song lyrics reflect their functions - Communications Psychology
In a multilingual corpus of child-directed songs, an analysis of the cumulative-compressibility of the lyrics reveals multiscale complexity patterns that could support different relevant fuctions, e.g...
www.nature.com
March 26, 2025 at 9:06 AM
profsamwass.bsky.social
Again, again, again! Article for Nursery World on the neuroscience of why repetition can help concentration in the early years
www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/feat...
Support children to maximise their focus - Nursery World
How can we capture children's attention? By Dr. Gemma Goldenberg and Professor Sam Wass
www.nurseryworld.co.uk
March 26, 2025 at 9:04 AM
profsamwass.bsky.social
Are brain states in children passively generated in response to things that happen in our environment? Or are they actively created through micro-level movements? Big questions in latest pre-preprint from @MarriottIra that re-examines developmental EEG findings 👇 1/8
March 24, 2025 at 7:10 AM
profsamwass.bsky.social
New preprint - 'From salience to semantics: multilevel hierarchical contingencies organise parent-infant joint attention' by Pierre Labendzki, @martaperapoch
with Louise Goupil, @EmilyDevNeuro and team from
@UEL_BabyDevLab
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.26638.47686
March 10, 2025 at 5:55 AM
profsamwass.bsky.social
Guest Essay for the launch of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood's Shaping Us framework - on an under-neglected topic - on why some of the most important learning happens BEFORE we develop the ability to focus #RoyalFoundation centreforearlychildhood.org/news-insight...
Learning to focus: how early brain development boosts - and limits - raw learning power  - CFEC
centreforearlychildhood.org
March 10, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Reposted by Sam Wass
tolchinsky.bsky.social
When things are perfectly predictable, one doesn't need memory. Conversely, we need memory to store information that can be used in a world that is somewhat unpredictable.

Source:

Oxford Mathematics, Sam Cohen’s ‘Information Theory’ course.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScX2...
Information Theory, Lecture 1: Defining Entropy and Information - Oxford Mathematics 3rd Yr Lecture
YouTube video by Oxford Mathematics
www.youtube.com
February 20, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Reposted by Sam Wass
bloomsburyed.bsky.social
ONE WEEK TODAY!🧠☁️

The countdown is ON for the publication day of Take Action on Distraction, from
@profsamwass.bsky.social & Gemma Goldenberg!🎉

Take action on distraction and never battle for children's attention again!
February 20, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Reposted by Sam Wass
isdp.org
A PhD Student opportunity funded by ESRC UBEL Doctoral and Training Pathway Scheme and Procter & Gamble, based mainly at www.uelbabydev.com @profsamwass.bsky.social in London with regular visits to P&G labs in Germany. isdp.org/2025/02/21/a...
A PhD Student opportunity based mainly at the UEL BABY DEV LAB in London with regular visits to P&G labs in Germany - International Society for Developmental Psychobiology (ISDP)
See below for a PhD opportunity funded by ESRC UBEL Doctoral and Training Pathway Scheme and Procter & Gamble, based mainly at www.uelbabydev.com in London with regular visits to P&G labs in Germany. ...
isdp.org
February 21, 2025 at 10:40 AM
profsamwass.bsky.social
Join @MusharafAsghar, @DingleyCEO, @TTSResources, @theearlyyearsdietitian, @cherylJ_warren, @BoogieMites, Neil Leitch, Shannon Pite and me at @EYAlliance Celebrating SEND roadshows in Nottingham and Bristol this year - book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/alliance-c...
Alliance Connect Roadshows: Celebrating SEND – a world without limits
Join one of our two interactive and inspiring events where we explore how we as early educators can deliver truly inclusive practice
www.eventbrite.co.uk
February 20, 2025 at 7:56 AM
profsamwass.bsky.social
FREE @EYAlliance family corner session tomorrow - Michael Rosen, Tiny Happy People, tips on outdoor learning, early language, neurodiversity www.familycorner.co.uk/home-where-s...
Home is where the start is: a free online festival of fun and learning
Home is where the start is: a world of possibilities A free online festival of fun and learning for the whole family! Our online family festival celebrating the role of parents and carers as their chi...
www.familycorner.co.uk
February 13, 2025 at 5:13 PM
profsamwass.bsky.social
The neuroscience of 'I want NORMAL chicken!!' Article for Nursery World on why toddlers love predictability.
www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/feat...
January 29, 2025 at 4:01 PM
profsamwass.bsky.social
I was at this too it was SO cool 📚
January 23, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Reposted by Sam Wass
whatsfsaid.bsky.social
You can never have enough Jan Pieńkowski! Here's a tribute I wrote to his work, when he won the @booktrust.bsky.social Lifetime Achievement Award:
www.sfsaid.com/2019/05/jan-...
January 22, 2025 at 7:15 PM
profsamwass.bsky.social
📣Just out in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews! @ELSneuroscience - 'Foraging and inertia: Understanding the developmental dynamics of overt visual attention' with @martaperapoch, Tom Northrop, @MarriottIra, @EmilyAPhillips www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
January 21, 2025 at 9:13 AM
profsamwass.bsky.social
Home is where the start is: a world of possibilities
Free @EYAlliance sessions for parents of 0-5s
Thurs 13 Feb to Sat 15 Feb
www.familycorner.co.uk/home-where-s...
January 21, 2025 at 9:05 AM