Determinants of Cognitive Development in the Early Life of Children in Bhaktapur, Nepal.

Background: Children in low and middle income countries may have many risk factors for poor cognitive development, and are accordingly at a high risk of not reaching their developmental potential. Determinants for cognitive development in early life can be found among biological and socioeconomic factors, as well as in stimulation and learning opportunities.

Objective: The present study aimed to identify determinants of cognitive, language and motor development in 6-11 months old Nepalese infants.

The Association Between Heart Rate Variability and Neurocognitive and Socio-Emotional Development in Nepalese Infants.

Background: Many young children in developing countries do not reach their developmental potential. Traditional methods for assessing developmental outcome are time consuming, thus, physiological measures that can contribute to the prediction of developmental outcomes in high risk groups have been suggested. Vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) is considered a neurophysiological or peripheral proxy for prefrontal and executive functioning and might serve as a supplement for traditional measurements of developmental status and as a potential useful risk indicator.