Learning, development and living environments

Our research aims to identify individual and environmental factors and interaction processes that promote or hinder learning and well-being.

Our research focuses on individual developmental pathways, learning difficulties, the cognitive and neurological foundations of learning and development, parenting, critical school transitions, and the risk and protective factors shaping development. We are also interested in the impact of genetics and lifestyle on learning potential, the well-being effects of nature, interpersonal interaction, motivation, and emotions and beliefs related to learning, as well as the interplay between these factors.

Phenomena related to learning, development, and well-being are studied in diverse settings such as homes, schools, nature, and leisure environments, as well as in controlled laboratory settings. This multi-contextual approach enables the examination of these phenomena from various perspectives and at different levels – from cells and brain activity to individual and community behaviour. Our research also contributes to the development of practices that support learning, individual and community development, and planetarily sustainable well-being. These practices are further evaluated for their effectiveness and impact.

Research groups in the research area

Active Mind Lab

In the Active Mind Lab, we study how the brain processes information; in particular, we study communication through speech and facial expressions. The name of our group reflects our aim to produce information that can help promote effective learning and t

Innovative Learning Environments (ILE)

Innovative Learning Environments, Finnish Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyväskylä

InterLearn – Research team of educational sciences

Within the CoE, the specific aim of the research team of educational sciences is to gain knowledge on factors explaining the interindividual variability in response to support.

InterLearn – Research team of psychology

Within the CoE, the specific aim of the research team of psychology is to study longitudinally links between children's learning and mental wellbeing.

Learning and neural plasticity - From single neurons to behavior

We study the neural basis of learning and memory.

Neural processes and connectivity

We study how local and network-level neural mechanisms support behavior across different modalities.

Research projects in this research area

Brain-wide memory consolidation in sleep studied with simultaneous electrophysiology and ultra-quiet zero-echo time fMRI

Research Council of Finland research project 2023-2027

DETECT - Learning for detection and processing of disinformation

The project explores the skills of secondary school students to detect disinformation, related factors and develops pedagogical methods for detecting disinformation.

EarlyMath - Pathways to math difficulties: A longitudinal study from birth to school-age

The EarlyMath project (2021-2026) studies children’s early development of mathematical skills, motivation and emotions in interaction with learning environments. We want to understand better why the learning of basic mathematical skills is challenging for

Get Involved!

Study investigates the role of parents and teachers in the development of children’s academic achievement, motivation, and behavior across the transition from preschool to primary school.

Get Involved! Primary School

Learning in primary school: What parents and teachers think, feel and do.

LearnDigi - Digitalization in and for learning and interaction

LearnDigi is a profiling area of JYU funded by Academy of Finland. We aim to examine ways in which technologies are used to support learning and knowledge construction, and the impacts of increasing digitalization on learning and interaction.