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Professor Natasha Kirkham

Positions held:
  • Chair, Ethics Committee; School of Psychological Sciences
Email
  • Overview

    Overview

    Biography

    Natasha is a Reader in Developmental Psychology and a member of the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development.聽 Natasha is also the Chair of Ethics for the School of Science.

    Natasha's research is focussed on early learning and the environment, specifically on how learning occurs in the middle of everything, with a specific interest in the role of noise and home chaos on attention.聽

    Current projects from her lab are investigating聽the impact of noise, distraction and rhythm on infants' and children's perception and attention.聽 The lab presently consists of 4 PhD students (, , , and ).听听

    In addition to her research, Natasha is a member of the project, working with Gilly Forrester on a variety of public dissemination talks, and , a society dedicated to聽supporting women in science.

    Highlights

    • latest publication

    • Recent 2020 publications:

    Web profiles

    Professional memberships

    • European Board Member,

    • Professional Member,

    ORCID

  • Research

    Research

    Research projects

    The role of noise in the development of attention

    Abstract

    This project is investigating how environmental noise can affect attention in an eye-tracking study with infants.聽 PhD student 聽is eyetracking聽10-month-old infants聽 while they watch a predictable pattern on a screen (based on this ).聽 There are three conditions: Environmental Noise (a background track of noise typically heard in the home - vaccuum cleaner. television, mobile phones), Acute Noise (a mobile phone buzzes periodically), and Silence (no noise, a typical in-lab experience).聽 In addition, parents take home a noise-level monitor to assess home noise, and fill in questionnaires regarding noise and baby's sleep quantity and quality.

    Outcomes


    Abstract

    PhD student 聽is rolling out an online study to see how children/adolescents' learning might be affected by various noises and distractions from the home, and how some children who are more experienced with noise might be better able to cope with this, while those with less experience might have more difficulty. Our results will help both parents and educators better support children's learning during this pandemic.

    Rhythm and prosocial behaviour

    Abstract

    This project will be looking at how synchronous rhythm (between two or more people) can change feelings of similarity, of affiliation, and affect prosocial behaviour.聽 .聽 In this research, PhD student and I聽 are looking at whether we can induce this by getting children to tap along with someone on a screen.聽 We are very interested in seeing whether we could use this idea as a way of promoting social understanding in children.

    Distraction and Attention

    Abstract

    PhD student is investigating the role of distraction in the development of attention. Distraction has quite a negative connotation usually ("don't get distracted!"), but actually being overly focussed can mean that you might miss important and interesting environmental cues (e.g., picking up on what someone is saying even if not directly related to your current project). In this project, we are looking at young children's ability to attend to relevant information, to use important distracting information to their advantage, while ignoring irrelevant information.

    Lab information

    My lab currently consists of 4 PhD students (to read about their interests/projects, click on their names):


    Recently graduated PhD student:


  • Supervision and teaching

    Supervision and teaching

    Teaching

    Teaching modules

    • Child Development in a Global Context
    • Generic Research Skills
    • Academic Skills for PG Students
    • Brain and Cognitive Development
    • Introduction to Developmental Psychology
    • Project BSc Psychology
    • Developmental Psychology
  • Publications

    Publications

    Article

    • Serino, G. and Dopierala, A.A.W. and Shen, C. and Mareschal, Denis and Scerif, G. and Kirkham, Natasha and Emberson, L.L. (2025) . Scientific Reports 15 (38220), ISSN 2045-2322.
    • Serino, Giulia and Mareschal, Denis and Scerif, G. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2024) . Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 238 (105795), ISSN 0022-0965.
    • Massonnie, Jessica and Frasseto, P. and Mareschal, Denis and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2022) . Environment & Behavior 54 (1), pp. 58-88. ISSN 0013-9165.
    • Massonnie, Jessica and Mareschal, Denis and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2022) . Mind, Brain, and Education 16 (3), pp. 252-262. ISSN 1751-2271.
    • Massonnie, Jessica and Frasseto, P. and Ng-Knight, T. and Gilligan-Lee, K. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Mareschal, Denis (2022) . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19 (14), pp. 8815. ISSN 1660-4601.
    • De Mooij, Susanne and Dumontheil, Iroise and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Raijmakers, M.E.J. and van der Maas, H.L.J. (2022) . Developmental Science 25 (2), pp. e13174. ISSN 1363-755x.
    • De Mooij, Susanne and Raijmakers, M.E.J. and Dumontheil, Iroise and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and van der Maas, H.L.J. (2021) . Journal of Computer Assisted Learning 37 (1), pp. 242-252. ISSN 0266-4909.
    • Amso, D. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2021) . Child Development Perspectives 15 (2), pp. 132-138. ISSN 1750-8592.
    • Tierney, Adam and Cardona Gomez, J. and Fedele, O. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2021) . Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 210 (105196), ISSN 0022-0965.
    • Chere, Brittney and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2021) . Frontiers in Psychology ISSN 1664-1078.
    • Broadbent, Hannah and Osborne, Tamsin and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Mareschal, Denis (2020) . Infant and Child Development 29 (2), pp. e2168. ISSN 1099-0917.
    • Broadbent, Hannah and Osborne, Tamsin and Mareschal, Denis and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2020) . Cognition 199 (104202), ISSN 0010-0277.
    • Anwyl-Irvine, A.L. and Massonni茅, Jessica and Flitton, A. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Evershed, J. (2020) . Behavior Research Methods 52, pp. 388-407. ISSN 1554-3528.
    • De Mooij, Susanne and Kirkham, Natasha and Dumontheil, Iroise and Raijmakers, M. and van der Maas, H. (2020) . Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 191 (104730), ISSN 0022-0965.
    • Massonni茅, Jessica and Rogers, Cathy Jane and Mareschal, Denis and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2019) . Frontiers in Psychology ISSN 1664-1078.
    • Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Rea, M. and Osborne, Tamsin and White, H. and Mareschal, Denis (2019) . Developmental Psychology 55 (10), pp. 2048-2059. ISSN 0012-1649.
    • Werchen, D.M. and Lynn, A. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Amso, D. (2019) . Infancy 24 (5), pp. 752-767. ISSN 1532-7078.
    • de Mooij, Susanne M.M. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Raijmakers, M. and van der Maas, H.L.J. and Dumontheil, Iroise (2019) . Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 191, pp. 104730. ISSN 0022-0965.
    • Broadbent, Hannah and White, Hayley and Mareschal, Denis and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2018) . Developmental Science 21 (2), pp. e12554. ISSN 1363-755x.
    • Broadbent, Hannah and Osborne, Tamsin and Rea, Michaela and Peng, Anna and Mareschal, Denis and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2018) . Developmental Psychology 54 (6), pp. 1020-1028. ISSN 0012-1649.
    • Peng, A. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Mareschal, Denis (2018) . Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 172, pp. 59-72. ISSN 0022-0965.
    • Peng, Anna and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Mareschal, Denis (2018) . PLoS One 13 (6), pp. e0198870. ISSN 1932-6203.
    • Broadbent, H. and Osborne, Tamsin and Mareschal, Denis and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2018) . Developmental Science 22 (1), pp. e12726. ISSN 1363-755x.
    • Xiao, N.G. and Wu, R. and Quinn, P.C. and Liu, S. and Tummeltshammer, K.S. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Ge, L. and Pascalis, O. and Lee, K. (2018) . Child Development 89 (3), pp. e229-e244. ISSN 0009-3920.
    • Saffran, J. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2018) . Annual Review of Psychology 69, pp. 181-203. ISSN 0066-4308.
    • Tummeltshammer, K. and Amso, D. and French, R. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2017) . Developmental Science 20 (5), pp. e12474. ISSN 1363-755x.
    • Jeste, S.S. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Senturk, D. and Hasenstab, K. and Sugar, C. and Kupelian, C. and Baker, E. and Sanders, A.J. and Shimizu, C. and Norona, A. and Paparella, T. and Freeman, S.F.N. and Johnson, S.P. (2015) . Developmental Science 18 (1), pp. 90-105. ISSN 1363-755x.
    • Papageorgiou, Kostas A. and Smith, Tim J. and Wu, Rachel and Johnson, Mark H. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Ronald, Angelica (2014) . Psychological Science 25 (7), pp. 1371-1379. ISSN 0956-7976.
    • Tummeltshammer, K.S. and Mareschal, Denis and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2014) . Child Development 85 (5), pp. 1981-1994. ISSN 0009-3920.
    • Tummeltshammer, Kristen and Mareschal, Denis and Kirkham, Natasha (2014) . Child Development 85 (5), pp. 1981-1994. ISSN 0009-3920.
    • Wu, Rachel and Tummeltshammer, Kristen S. and Gliga, Teodora and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2014) . Frontiers in Psychology 5, ISSN 1664-1078.
    • Tummeltshammer, Kristen S. and Wu, Rachel and Sobel, D.M. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2014) . Psychological Science 25 (9), pp. 1730-1738. ISSN 0956-7976.
    • Tummeltshammer, K.S. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2013) . Developmental Science 16 (5), pp. 760-771. ISSN 1363-755x.
    • Barker, Edwards D. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Ng, J. and Jensen, S.K.G. (2013) . The British Journal of Psychiatry 203 (6), pp. 417-421. ISSN 0007-1250.
    • Kirkham, Natasha and Tummeltshammer, Kristen (2013) . Developmental Science 16 (5), pp. 760-771. ISSN 1363-755x.
    • Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Wagner, J.B. and Swan, Kristen A. and Johnson, S.P. (2012) . Infant Behavior and Development 35 (1), pp. 174-178. ISSN 0163-6383.
    • Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Richardson, D.C. and Wu, Rachel and Johnson, S.P. (2012) . Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 113 (3), pp. 430-439. ISSN 0022-0965.
    • Sobel, D.M. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2012) . Advances In Child Development and Behavior 43, pp. 321-350. ISSN 0065-2407.
    • Richardson, D.C. and Street, C.N.H. and Tan, J.Y.M. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Hoover, M.A. and Ghane Cavanaugh, A. (2012) . Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 6, ISSN 1662-5161.
    • Wu, Rachel and Gopnik, A. and Richardson, D.C. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2011) . Developmental Psychology 47 (5), pp. 1220-1229. ISSN 0012-1649.
    • Dale, R. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Richardson, D.C. (2011) . Frontiers in Psychology 2 (355), ISSN 1664-1078.
    • Wu, Rachel and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2010) . Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 107 (2), pp. 118-136. ISSN 0022-0965.
    • Sobel, D.M. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2007) . Developmental Science 10 (3), pp. 298-306. ISSN 1363-755x.
    • Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Slemmer, J.A. and Richardson, D.C. and Johnson, S.P. (2007) . Child Development 78 (5), pp. 1559-1571. ISSN 0009-3920.
    • Richardson, D.C. and Dale, R.A.C. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2007) . Psychological Science 18 (5), pp. 407-413. ISSN 0956-7976.
    • Sobel, D.M. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2006) . Developmental Psychology 42 (6), pp. 1103-1115. ISSN 0012-1649.
    • Richardson, D.C. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2004) . Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 133 (1), pp. 46-62. ISSN 0096-3445.
    • Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Cruess, L.M. and Diamond, A. (2003) . Developmental Science 6 (5), pp. 449-467. ISSN 1363-755X.
    • Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Diamond, A. (2003) . Developmental Science 6 (5), pp. 474-476. ISSN 1363-755X.
    • Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Slemmer, J.A. and Johnson, S.P. (2002) . Cognition 83 (2), pp. B35-B42. ISSN 0010-0277.
    • Diamond, A. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Amso, D. (2002) . Developmental Psychology 38 (3), pp. 352-362. ISSN 0012-1649.
    • Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Slemmer, J.A. and Johnson, S.P. (2002) . Cognition 83 (2), pp. B35-B42. ISSN 0010-0277.
    • Canfield, R.L. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2001) . Infancy 2 (2), pp. 197-211. ISSN 1525-0008.
    • Diamond, A. and Churchland, A. and Cruess, L.M. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (1999) . Developmental Psychology 35 (6), pp. 1507-1517. ISSN 0012-1649.
    • Jacques, S. and Zelazo, P.D. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Sencesen, T.K. (1999) . Developmental Psychology 35 (3), pp. 770-780. ISSN 0012-1649.

    Book section

    • Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2019) . In: The Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development. Wiley. ISBN 9781119161899.
    • Wu, Rachel and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2012) . In: Miyake, N. and Peebles, D. and Cooper, Richard P. (eds.) Proceedings of the 34th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Austin, Texas, USA: Cognitive Science Society. pp. 1161-1166. ISBN 9780976831884.
    • Wu, Rachel and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Swan, Kristen A. and Gliga, Teodora (2011) . In: Kokinov, B. and Karmiloff-Smith, Annette and Nersessian, N. (eds.) European Perspectives on Cognitive Science. Sofia, Bulgaria: New Bulgarian University Press. ISBN 9789545356605.
    • Wu, Rachel and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Swan, Kristen A. and Gliga, Teodora (2011) . In: Carlson, L. and Hoelscher, C. and Shipley, T.F. (eds.) Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science: Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Conference of the Cognitive cience Society. Austin, Texas, USA: Cognitive Science Society. ISBN 9780976831877.
    • Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2010) . In: Johnson, S.P. (ed.) Neoconstructivism: The new science of cognitive development. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195331059.
    • Wu, Rachel and Gopnik, A. and Richardson, D.C. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2010) . In: Ohlsson, S. and Catrambone, R. (eds.) Cognition in Flux: Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Austin, Texas, USA: Cognitive Science Society. pp. 1228-1233. ISBN 9780976831860.
    • Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Slemmer, J.A. and Johnson, S.P. (2001) . In: Moore, J.D. and Stenning, K. (eds.) Proceedings of the Twenty-third Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society. London, UK: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. ISBN 9780805841520.

    Conference item

    • Wu, Rachel and Yu, C. and Smith, L.B. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. and Yurovsky, D. (2011) . 12th Neural Computation and Psychology Workshop, 2011, London, UK