Anne Fernald, Ph.D.

Anne Fernald, Ph.D.

Anne Fernald, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Josephine Knotts Knowles Professor of Human Biology, Department of Psychology, Stanford University, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305
Anne Fernald has done pioneering research on the early development of skill in language processing, developing high-resolution measures of the time course of infants’ understanding as they learn to interpret language from moment to moment. In longitudinal studies with English- and Spanish-learning children from advantaged and disadvantaged families, this research reveals the vital role of early language experience in strengthening speech processing effi ciency, which in turn facilitates language learning. A central goal of this research program is to help parents understand that they play a crucial role in providing their infant with early linguistic nutrition and language exercise.