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Playing with dolls could help the social development of children - including those with neurodiverse conditions such as autism, according to a study. The research, from Cardiff University, found children exhibiting higher levels of autism traits showed increased brain activity in a key region associated with social processing when engaging in conversations with individuals during doll play. The new findings suggested that broader social engagement with others while engaging in doll play was a unique pathway to social development for these children. This was in contrast to what was observed in neurotypical children, who were more likely to discuss the dolls’ thoughts and emotions. However, researchers said that despite this difference, it showed that both groups may be able to benefit from doll play by using it as a tool for practising social scenarios and developing social skills, such as empathy. The findings are the latest release from a multi-year study by the Centre for Human Developmental Science at the university’s School of Psychology. Previous years have focused on neurotypical children and found wide-ranging social and developmental benefits of playing with dolls. Now, in its third year, the research team has replicated those results with a more diverse range of participants, including children aged between four and eight displaying both high and low levels of traits associated with autism. Lead researcher Dr Sarah Gerson said: “Our study shows that doll play can encourage social processing in children, regardless of their neurodevelopmental profile. “The findings show that all children, even those who display neurodivergent traits commonly associated with autism, may use doll play as a tool for practicing social scenarios and developing social skills, such as empathy.” State-of-the-art functional, near-infrared spectroscopy equipment was used to explore brain activation while children played with dolls and on tablets, both by themselves and with another person, replicating conditions from the first year of the study. While observing children, researchers saw increased brain activity in the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) region - which is heavily involved in social and emotional processing such as empathy - when playing with dolls, for both play with a social partner and during solo doll play, but less so during solo tablet play. The study’s results suggest that doll play could support social processing, regardless of a child’s neurodevelopmental profile, but through different pathways. For children displaying fewer autistic traits in the research, talking about the mental states and emotions of the dolls they were playing with was associated with increased pSTS activity. In contrast, for those displaying more autistic traits, talking with others during doll play, even when playing by themselves, led to more social processing on a neural level. Other research has shown that social processing and empathy skills are important determinants in children’s future emotional, academic, and social success. The study was a collaboration with the Wales Autism Research Centre. ‘Create a more inclusive and supportive environment for their development’ Its director Dr Catherine Jones said: “The study reinforces how it is important that that we acknowledge and value neurodiversity. “This means recognising and valuing the diverse ways in which children’s brains work and approaching social development in a way that is inclusive and accommodating for all children, regardless of their neurodivergence. “By embracing all ways that children choose to play, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for their development.” Since the landmark publication of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, the effects of play have been thought to be positive for kids’ social skills and creativity, but this has never been scientifically evidenced at the brain level. The multi-year long-term study, commissioned by Barbie, is the first time key Piaget theories on play have been scientifically evidenced via brain imaging and the first to use neuroimaging evidence with natural doll play, meaning there was no prescribed storyline to show how the brain is activated during doll play. Michael Swaisland, head EMEA of insight and analytics, Mattel, said: “We are proud to know that when children, regardless of their neurodevelopmental profile, play with Barbie, their playtime may benefit their development. “As Barbie continues to inspire the limitless potential in every child, we are delighted to know, through neuroscience, that playing with dolls may encourage the development of social skills such as empathy in children, including those who display neurodivergent traits commonly associated with autism. “We look forward to uncovering even more benefits of doll play through our long-term partnership with Cardiff University as we look to shine a light on the benefits the play pattern has towards development, that parents might not have been aware of.” Parents and caregivers can visit here to learn more about the research and access resources. 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Women who smoke during pregnancy are 2.6 times more likely to give birth prematurely compared with non-smokers – more than double the previous estimate, new research suggests. The University of Cambridge study also found smoking meant the baby was four times more likely to be small for its gestational age, putting it at risk of potentially serious complications including breathing difficulties and infections. There was no evidence caffeine intake was linked to negative outcomes. We’ve known for a long time that smoking during pregnancy is not good for the baby, but our study shows that it’s potentially much worse than previously thought Professor Gordon Smith, University of Cambridge Professor Gordon Smith, head of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Cambridge, said: “We’ve known for a long time that smoking during pregnancy is not good for the baby, but our study shows that it’s potentially much worse than previously thought. “It puts the baby at risk of potentially serious complications from growing too slowly in the womb or from being born too soon. “We hope this knowledge will help encourage pregnant mums and women planning pregnancy to access smoking-cessation services. “Pregnancy is a key time when women quit and if they can remain tobacco free after the birth there are lifelong benefits for them and their child.” The NHS recommends that women who are pregnant should stop smoking and limit their caffeine intake because of the risk of complications to the baby. When the toxins from smoke travel through the bloodstream to the baby, it struggles for oxygen. When this happens it affects their development, and is linked to premature birth and low birthweight, though it has also been linked to a reduced risk of pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy). High caffeine intake has also been linked to lower birthweight and possibly foetal growth restriction. But caffeine can be more difficult to avoid than cigarette smoke as, as well as being found in coffee and tea, it can be found in chocolate, energy drinks, soft drinks and certain medications. Researchers say studies looking at the links between smoking and caffeine and their impact on pregnancy tend to rely on people reporting how much they have consumed, or exposure to smoke, data which is not always reliable. Blood tests for metabolites – chemical by-products created when substances such as tobacco and caffeine are processed in the body – might be more accurate. Researchers at Cambridge and the Rosie Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, recruited more than 4,200 women who attended the hospital between 2008 and 2012 as part of the Pregnancy Outcome Prediction (POP) study. The team analysed blood samples taken from a group of these women four times during their pregnancies. To assess exposure to cigarette smoke, the team looked at levels of cotinine, which can be detected in blood, urine and saliva. Only two out of three women with detectable levels of cotinine in every blood sample were self-reported smokers, showing that this measure is a more objective way of assessing smoking behaviour, researchers say. A total of 914 women were included in the smoking analysis. Of these, 78.6% were classified as having no exposure to smoking while pregnant, 11.7% as having some exposure and 9.7% as having consistent exposure. The study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, found that compared with those without smoke exposure while pregnant, those with consistent exposure were 2.6 times more likely to experience spontaneous preterm birth. According to the researchers, this is more than double the previous estimate of 1.27 from an analysis of multiple studies. They were also 4.1 times as likely to experience foetal growth restriction. Additionally, babies born to smokers were found to be on average 387g lighter than babies born to non-smokers – that is, more than 10% smaller than the weight of an average newborn. This increases the risk that the baby will have a low birth weight (2.5kg or less), which in turn is linked to an increased risk of developmental problems as well as poorer health in later life. Unlike in previous studies, the team found no evidence that smoking reduced the risk of pre-eclampsia. To assess caffeine intake, researchers looked for the metabolite paraxanthine in 915 women. Of these women, 12.8% had low levels of paraxanthine throughout pregnancy (suggesting low caffeine intake), 74.0% had moderate levels and 13.2% had high levels. The researchers say there was little evidence of an association between caffeine intake and any of the negative outcomes. However, because the researchers did not study all possible adverse outcomes of pregnancy, and some of the outcomes not studied – such as stillbirth – have been associated with higher caffeine intake in previous studies, they cannot interpret the findings as indicating that current recommendations around caffeine intake should be changed. The work was supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre and the Medical Research Council. 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Female university students are more than twice as likely as male students to say they have been affected by poor mental health, new analysis suggests. Data shows 12% of female students say they have been affected, compared to 5% of males. Reported mental health problems among university students have almost tripled in recent years, according to the analysis. The percentage of undergraduate students at universities across the UK who said they had experienced mental health difficulties rose from 6% to 16% between the 2016/17 and 2022/23 academic years. It means one in six undergraduates now reports experiencing mental health challenges. The findings suggest further action should be taken to prevent mental health difficulties arising wherever possible, and that services are adequately resourced to support students quickly when they need help Professor Michael Sanders, King’s College London Analysis by the Policy Institute at King’s College London and the Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO) found a significant part of this increase occurred in the last 12 months, a period during which the cost-of-living crisis intensified. Poor mental health is by far the most common reason for students wanting to drop out of university. Among those considering dropping out, the proportion citing financial distress as the main reason has risen from 3.5% to 8% between 2022 and 2023. But the general upward trend in mental health problems predates both the rise in inflation and the Covid-19 pandemic, indicating that other factors are likely to be at play, researchers said. The analysis – which drew on a dataset of 82,682 full-time UK undergraduates over seven years – shows some groups are more affected than others. Of the non-binary respondents, 42% said they have been affected by poor mental health, along with 30% of trans people. Bisexual people (28%) have the highest average levels of mental health difficulties among LGBTQ groups across the data, while gay men (14%) have the lowest – although this is still greater than the level seen among straight people (7%). White students (12%) have on average worse mental health than their peers from other ethnicities, but those with a “mixed” ethnicity (12%) are just as likely to have mental health difficulties. Undergraduates who attended state schools (15%) have on average worse mental health than their peers who attended private school (11%), while students who get most of their money through a maintenance loan, grant or paid work are more likely to have mental health difficulties than those on scholarships or with family support. Michael Sanders, professor of public policy at the Policy Institute and author of the study, said: “It’s clear the experiences of mental ill-health among students are deeply unequal, and exist along much the same lines as in society at large, with those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds or who often face discrimination being most likely in general to report struggles with their mental health. “The findings suggest further action should be taken to prevent mental health difficulties arising wherever possible, and that services are adequately resourced to support students quickly when they need help.” Dr Omar Khan, chief executive officer of TASO, said: “This report highlights the persistent and widespread mental health challenges faced by students. “While Covid and the cost-of-living crisis have clearly exacerbated such challenges, the upward trend is not new. “We’re working with the higher education sector to better understand what works to improve mental health outcomes for all students.” It comes as a separate report from the NHS Race and Health Observatory calls for more mental health support for people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities in England. It said that it is estimated that suicide rates among these groups are up to seven times higher than in other communities. Dr Habib Naqvi, chief executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: “We know that Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities face stark challenges in accessing psychological therapies and other mental health services. “This report lays bare the mental health issues and stigma faced by these communities first hand.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Many parents of under 5s on less than £50k ‘quit work due to childcare costs’ – survey 5 trainer trends that will be everywhere this autumn 11 ways to work autumnal wonder at home

Bonnie Wright has announced the birth of her first child, sharing the baby’s name and first photo with her social media followers. The 32-year-old actor is best known for playing Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter film series, which concluded in 2012. In April, she and her husband Andrew Lococo told fans that they were expecting their first child together. On Wednesday (27 September), Wright shared that she’d given birth at home last week, along with a photo of the newborn asleep under a blanket. “Say hello to Elio Ocean Wright Lococo, born at home on Tuesday 19th September,” Wright’s caption began. “We’re all healthy and happy. Andrew and I are so in love with our sun,” she wrote, adding a sun emoji. She continued her caption by praising the doula, midwives, doctor and other maternity professionals for their “amazing” work. “So grateful for our birth team that have held our hands throughout and made the journey so joyous and expanding,” Wright continued. “Birth is the wildest experience!” The actor and writer concluded her caption with a short tribute to Lococo. “Lastly thanks to Andrew my rock throughout birth quite literally as I squeezed onto you so tight and you never wavered. Elio has the most tender loving papa.” In response to the post, many fans and friends of the film star shared warm wishes in the comment section. Evanna Lynch, who played quirky Hogwarts student Luna Lovegood in four Harry Potter films, is one notable figure to have left a congratulatory message – and pointed out an unexpected link to the wizarding franchise. “Awwww congratulations Bonnie and Andrew!!! Welcome to Earth, Elio Ocean!!! ps. Hermione’s birthday twin, I’m sure you’ve been told!!” the Irish actor wrote. Others were quick to make references to the film series, with several naming the birth as the arrival of “another Weasley”. In August, Wright posted photos and video from her and Lococo’s “baby moon” in Laguna Beach, California, as they celebrated their “last quiet holiday as just two”. The couple married on 19 March 2022, a day that Wright has since described as “the best day of my life”. In an interview with Brides magazine earlier this year, she spoke about how her passion for sustainability was reflected in their choices for the ceremony, as well as in her vintage, century-old wedding dress. “The dress didn’t have the original underdress with it as it had likely perished – it being 100 years old!” she explained. “So when I was first trying it on, it was completely see-through. It was quite funny having to imagine the underdress we would end up making for it.” Read More Bonnie Wright admits feeling ‘anxious and frustrated’ by Harry Potter screen time Harry Potter star Bonnie Wright shares new details about her 100-year-old wedding dress Harry Potter star Bonnie Wright announces she’s pregnant with her first child Nick Cannon candidly admits Mariah Carey saved his life amid lupus diagnosis The best napping method to help with pulling an all-nighter Toys children play with can have an effect on their success in adulthood

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Nick Cannon has revealed the appreciation he has for ex-wife Mariah Carey during a difficult time. In a recent interview on the Diary Of A CEO podcast, the father of 12 wasn’t afraid to confess that he wouldn’t have survived his 2012 lupus diagnosis if it wasn’t for the “Without You” singer by his side. “She was my rock,” he admitted. “She went hard. To be honest, I probably wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for how hard she went with the doctors, with me, my stubbornness.” The Grammy winner, 54 and the former America’s Got Talent host, 42, saw sparks flying almost immediately when Carey cast Cannon as her love interest in the 2008 “Bye Bye” music video. It only took six weeks from the time they got engaged for Carey and Cannon to tie the knot. In 2011, they welcomed fraternal twins Moroccan and Monroe. Unfortunately, Cannon was diagnosed with lupus one year later - an inflammatory disease which occurs when the immune system attacks its own tissues. The Masked Singer host described Carey as “the perfect helpmate, the perfect matriarch, the perfect mom, the perfect wife” during this time. “It probably took a toll on us just because of the person I was in my head and the struggles that I was dealing with,” he continued. “But it definitely brought us closer together.” When podcast host Steven Bartlett asked whether Cannon believed Carey “saved his life”, he simply responded: “I absolutely do.” “But that’s what you do when you find a helpmate. When you find someone that you’re in matrimony with, you go hard for [them],” Cannon pointed out. “I feel like I went hard for her and we’ll still go hard - I lay down my life for her today. That’s what you do, it’s just family.” Cannon went on to explain how his experience with the disease put many things into perspective for him. However, it wasn’t easy for him to see things clearly while he was struggling. In fact, he told Bartlett that he was also dealing with mental health issues at the time, such as questioning his purpose and effect on the world. “Staring up from the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling all alone when everybody else is kicked out, and you gotta be face to face with your higher power, asking all those tough questions. Am I done?” he explained. “A lot of people don’t do that because we get caught up in the constant race of just living day to day, but it slowed down for me on many occasions.” While it may have been difficult for him to comprehend at the time, Cannon said he now lives his days with direction and without fear. “I’m probably reminded of my physical mortality all the time,” he noted. “And when you’re not afraid of dying, you focus on living, you know?” This isn’t the first time the TV personality has praised the “All I Want for Christmas Is You” singer. In 2022, Cannon opened up to Entertainment Tonight about the gratitude he has for his time spent with Carey. “I was talking about the fantasy of it all. I was like: ‘Yo, if I could have that same vibe of where I was at that state in my life and that age, of course I would do that all over again,’” he said. “But I’m not.” In addition to his two children with Carey, Cannon has welcomed Rise, Powerful, and Golden, with Brittany Bell; Zion, Zillion, and Beautiful with Abby De La Rosa; Halo with Alyssa Scott; Legendary with Bre Tiesi; and Onyx with LaNisha Cole. Cannon and Scott lost their baby boy, Zen, to cancer in 2021 when he was only five months old. Read More Nick Cannon’s brother says he can’t remember the 12 names of his nieces and nephews Nick Cannon shares Mariah Carey’s ‘high frequency’ reaction to actor having 12 children Mariah Carey: 'Music was my escape' The best napping method to help with pulling an all-nighter Toys children play with can have an effect on their success in adulthood Summer of female sporting events inspires millions of women to get back into the game