Staff profile

My research interests are in early mother-infant interaction starting prenatally from around 12 weeks of gestational age. I am currently working on the effect of maternal stress and depression on infant cognitive, emotional and social development.

Press Contacts

• prenatal to postnatal development
• fetal development
• premature infant development
• maternal stress and depression
• mother-infant interaction

• Developmental Science

• Nadja Reissland's Homepage

• 2022: expert member on the Social Sciences panel for the Irish Research Council Laureate Awards (IRCLA) 2021/22: Starting and Consolidator Laureate Awards Programme | Funding | Irish Research Council
• 2021: Athena Swan Equality Assessment panel:
• 2020: Athena Swan Equality Assessment panel:
• 2017: Athena Swan Equality Assessment panel : Athena Swan Equality charter mark Assessment panel ;assesing 4 Departments/Universities Feb 2017
• 2017: Athena Swan Race Equality Charter Mark review panel : Athena Swan Race Equality Charter Mark review panel Feb 2016
• 2017: Invited address Royal Society of Psychiatrists : Invited address Royal Society of Psychiatrists ( Nov 2017)
• 2017: Invited CPD accredited lecture : Invited CPD accredited lecture entitled: Fetal development and the effects of 4D scanning on prenatal attachment: making the fetus a person Nottingham Small Steps Lottery funded program (2017). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXVuEBz0Uaw&feature=youtu.be
• 2017: Invited plenary address,The Japan Academy of Neursonology,Japan : June 2017, Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan: The 36th Annual Congress of The Japan Academy of Neursonology: invited plenary address entitled: The potential of assessing fetal neurobehavioral development using the ;Fetal Observable Movement System (FOMS)
• 2017: Member of the Inner Assessment Board Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS): Member of the Inner Assessment Board ;Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) ;Postdoctoral Assessment Board (2014, 2017) reviewing Marie Curie postdoctoral fellowship applications meeting 12 and 13 April 2017 in Dublin at the headquarter of the ;Irish Research Council
• 2016: Associate Editor Infant and Child Development:
• 2016: Distinguished memorial lecture, Society for New Fetal Medicine and Science, Japan: November 2016, Otsu Japan: ;The 4th Conference of the Society for New Fetal Medicine and Science: “distinguished memorial lecture “ entitled: The untapped potential of using ultrasound to improve research and clinical practice
• 2016: Invite talk International Marcé Society Australia: Sept 2016, The International Marcé Society ;for Perinatal Mental Health: Melbourne, Australia: invited talk entitled: The effects of prenatal maternal stress and smoking on fetal behaviour.
• 2016: Invited Plenary Speaker: Society for New Fetal Medicine and Science, Otsu, Japan
• 2015: Houses of Paliament : Evidence to the AAPG conception to age 2
• 2015: written evidence for NHS strategy: written evidence can be found under: NEWS and Resources/Parliament page
• 2014: Editorial Board European Journal of Developmental Psychology:
• 2013: Govenor and member of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee:
• 2013: International Assessment Board evaluating the Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowships 2013: Asssessing postdoctoral grant applications (1-3 years) including ELEVATE ;Marie Curie International Mobility Postdoctoral Fellowship
• 2012: Govenor TEWVMember of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee: Govenor of the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS foundation trust. Member of the Appointments and ;Remuneration Committee. Member of the improving experience of carers sub-committee.
• 2012: International Assessment Board (IAB) evaluating the Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowships 2012:
• 2011: International Assessment Board (IAB) evaluating the Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowships 2011: Invited member to serve on the board of the IRCHSS postdoctoral fellowships.

Available for media contact about:

• Child health:
• Stress:
• Human biology and development: Fetal development
• Psychology: Fetal development
• Child health: Fetal development
• Human biology and development: child health prenatal development maternal depression
• Medical and health research topics: child health prenatal development maternal depression
• Child health: child health prenatal development maternal depression
• Stress: child health prenatal development maternal depression

Authored book

• Reissland, N & Kisilevsky, B (2016). Fetal Development. Springer.
• Reissland, Nadja (2012). The Development of Emotional Intelligence. Routledge.

Chapter in book

• Reissland, Nadja & Austen, Joe (2018). Goal Directed Behaviours: The Development of Pre-Natal Touch Behaviours. In Reach-to-Grasp Behavior: Brain, Behavior, and Modelling Across the Life Span. Corbetta, Daniela & Santello, Marco Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. 3-17.
• O’Donnell, K.J., Reissland, N. & Glover, V. (2017). New Insights into Prenatal Stress: Immediate- and Long-Term Effects on the Fetus and Their Timing. In Neonatal Pain - Suffering, Pain, and Risk of Brain Damage in the Fetus and Newborn. Buonocore, G. & Bellieni, C.V. Cham: Springer. 75-85.

Edited Journal

• Reissland, N. & Hopkins, B. (2010). Towards a fetal psychology. Infant and Child Development, 19 John Wiley Blackwell.

Journal Article

• Schaal, Benoist, Ustun, Beyza, Blissett, Jacqueline & Reissland, Nadja (2023). (As yet) unsolved questions about amniotic fluid-borne flavours and their perception by the human fetus. Reply to the letter by Dr J. G. Alves in Psychological Science. PsyArXiv Preprints
• Ustun, Beyza, Covey, Judith & Reissland, Nadja (2023). Chemosensory continuity from prenatal to postnatal life in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 18(3): e0283314.
• Reissland, Nadja, Matthewson, Jennifer & Einbeck, Jochen (2023). Association between Hyperemesis Gravidarum in pregnancy on postnatal ability of infants to attend to a play task with their mother. Infant Behavior and Development 71: 101823.
• Ustun, Beyza, Reissland, Nadja, Covey, Judith, Schaal, Benoist & Blisset, Jacqueline (2022). Flavor Sensing in Utero and Emerging Discriminative Behaviours in the Human Fetus. Psychological Science 33(10): 1651–1663.
• Musa, Azuwan, Lane, Alison R. & Ellison, Amanda (2022). The effects of induced optical blur on visual search performance and training. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology 75(2): 277-288.
• Froggatt, Suzanne, Reissland, Nadja, Covey, Judith & Kumardendran, Kumar (2021). Foetal mouth movements: Effects of nicotine. Acta paediatrica 110(11): 3014-3020.
• Reissland, N., Einbeck, J., Wood, R. & Lane, A. (2021). Effects of maternal mental health on prenatal movement profiles in twins and singletons. Acta paediatrica 110(9): 2553-2558.
• Froggatt, S., Reissland, N. & Covey, J. (2021). Risk Perception of Cigarette and E-cigarette use during Pregnancy: A Qualitative Postpartum Perspective. Midwifery 94: 102917.
• Cox, Hannah, James, Alana, Day, Crispin & Reissland, Nadja (2021). Feasibility of a psychoeducational group intervention to improve parental reflective functioning and bonding in pregnancy: A randomised trial. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology 39(5): 499-515.
• Sangawi, H.S., Adams, J. & Reissland, N. (2021). Individual Differences in Executive Function: The Role of Parental Monitoring as a Moderator. Journal of Attention Disorders 25(3): 364-376.
• Froggatt, S., Reissland, N. & Covey, J. (2020). The effects of prenatal cigarette and e-cigarette exposure on infant neurobehaviour: A comparison to a control group. EClinical Medicine 28: 100602.
• Reissland, N., Wood, R. Einbeck, J. & Lane, A. (2020). Effects of maternal mental health on fetal visual preference for face-like compared to non-face like light stimulation. Early Human Development 151: 105227.
• Reissland, N., Millard, A., Wood, R., Ustun, B., McFaul, C., Froggatt, S. & Einbeck, J. (2020). Prenatal effects of maternal nutritional stress and mental health on the fetal movement profile. Archives of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 302(1): 65-75.
• Froggatt, S, Covey, J & Reissland, N (2020). Infant neurobehavioural consequences of prenatal cigarette exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Paediatrica 109(6): 1112-1124.
• Reissland, N., Wood, R., Einbeck, J. & Lane, A. (2020). Testing fetal abilities: A commentary on studies testing prenatal reactions to light stimulation. Iscience
• Reissland, Nadja, Makhmud, Akerke & Froggatt, Suzanne (2019). Comparing a foetus diagnosed with Prader–Willi syndrome with non-affected foetuses during light and sound stimulation using 4D ultrasound. Acta Paediatrica 108(2): 375-376.
• Reissland, N., Froggatt, S., Reames, E. & Girkin, J. (2018). Effects of maternal anxiety and depression on fetal neuro-development. Journal of Affective Disorders 241: 469-474.
• Sangawi, Hoshiar, Adams, John & Reissland, Nadja (2018). Effects of parental intervention on behavioural and psychological outcomes for Kurdish parents and their children. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal 24(5): 459-468.
• Soussignan, Robert, Dollion, Nicolas, Schaal, Benoist, Durand, Karine, Reissland, Nadja & Baudouin, Jean-Yves (2018). Mimicking emotions: how 3–12-month-old infants use the facial expressions and eyes of a model. Cognition and Emotion 32(4): 827-842.
• Sangawi, Hoshiar, Adams, John & Reissland, Nadja (2018). The Impact of Parenting Styles on Children Developmental Outcome: The Role of Academic Self-Concept as a Mediator. International Journal of Psychology 53(5): 379-387.
• Reid, Vincent M., Dunn, Kirsty, Young, Robert J., Amu, Johnson, Donovan, Tim & Reissland, Nadja (2017). The Human Fetus Preferentially Engages with Face-like Visual Stimuli. Current Biology 27(12): 1825-1828.
• Longfier, L., Soussignan, R., Reissland, N., Leconte, M., Marret, S., Schaal, B. & Mellier, D. (2016). Emotional expressiveness of 5–6 month-old infants born very premature versus full-term at initial exposure to weaning foods. Appetite 107: 494-500.
• Reissland, N., Lewis, S., Lal, M. & Patterson, L. (2016). What is ‘successful feeding’ on the neonatal intensive care unit? A psychologist’s perspective. MIDRS Midwifery Digest 26(2): 231-235.
• Reissland, N., Francis, B., Buttanshaw, L., Austen, J. M. & Reid, V. (2016). Do fetuses move their lips to the sound that they hear? An observational feasibility study on auditory stimulation in the womb. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 2(1): 14.
• Reissland, N., Francis, B., Kumarendran, K. & Mason, J. (2015). Ultrasound observations of subtle movements: a pilot study comparing fetuses of smoking and non-smoking mothers. Acta Paediatrica 104(6): 596-603.
• Harvey, H., Good, J., Mason, J. M. & Reissland, N. (2015). A Q-methodology study of parental understandings of infant immunisation: Implications for health-care advice. Journal of Health Psychology 20(11): 1451-1462.
• Reissland, N., Austen, J.M., Hanaoka, U., AboEllail, M.A.M., Uematsu, R. & Hata, T. (2015). The potential use of the fetal observable movement system in clinical practice. Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology 4(October-December): 426-433.
• Sangawi, Sadiq, Adams, John & Reissland, Nadja (2015). The Effects of Parenting Styles on Behavioral Problems in Primary School Children: A Cross-Cultural Review. Asian Social Science 11(22): 171-186.
• Harvey, H., Reissland, N. & Mason, J. (2015). Parental reminder, recall and educational interventions to improve early childhood immunisation uptake: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Vaccine 33(29): 2862-2880.
• Dunn, K., Reissland, N. & Reid, V. (2015). The functional foetal brain: A systematic preview of methodological factors in reporting foetal visual and auditory capacity. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience 13: 43-52.
• Reissland, N., Aydin, E., Francis, B. & Exley, E. (2015). Laterality of foetal self-touch in relation to maternal stress. Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition 20(1): 82-94.
• Reissland, N., Francis, B., Aydin, E., Mason, J. & Exley, K. (2014). Development of prenatal lateralization: evidence from fetal mouth movements. Physiology & Behavior 131: 160-163.
• Reissland, N., Francis, B., Aydin, E., Mason, J. & Schaal, B. (2014). The development of anticipation in the fetus: a longitudinal account of human fetal mouth movements in reaction to and anticipation of touch. Developmental psychobiology 56(5): 955-963.
• Reissland, N. (2014). What the Fetal Face can tell Us: A Discussion of the Evidence, Implications and Potential for Further Research. Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology 8(4): 336-343.
• Reissland, N., Francis, B. & Mason, J. (2013). Can Healthy Fetuses Show Facial Expressions of “Pain” or “Distress”? PLOS ONE 8(6): e65530.
• Reissland, N., Mason, C., Schaal, B. & Lincoln, K. (2012). "Prenatal Mouth Movements: Can We Identify Co-Ordinated Fetal Mouth and LIP Actions Necessary for Feeding?". International Journal of Pediatrics 2012: 848596.
• Reissland, N., Francis, B. & Mason, J. (2012). Development of Fetal Yawn Compared with Non-Yawn Mouth Openings from 24-36 Weeks Gestation. PLOS ONE 7(11): e50569
• Reissland, N., Harvey, H. & Mason. J. M. (2012). Effects of maternal parity, depression and stress on two-month-old infant expression of pain. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology 30(4): 363-376.
• Reissland, N., Francis, B., Mason, JM. & Lincoln, K. (2011). Do Facial Expressions Develop before Birth? PLoS One 6(8): e24081.
• Wilson,P., Puckering C., McConnachie, A., Marwick,H., Reissland, N. & Gillberg, C. (2010). Inexpensive video cameras used by parents to record social communication in epidemiological investigations in early childhood – a feasibility study. Infant Behavior and Development
• Hopkins B. & Reissland, N. (2010). Epilogue. Infant and Child Development 19(1): 125-126.
• Reissland,N. & Burt, M. (2010). Bi-directional effects of depressed mood in the postnatal period on mother–infant non-verbal engagement with picture books. Infant Behavior and Development 33(4): 613-618.
• Reissland, N. & Francis, B. (2010). The quality of fetal arm movements as indicators of fetal stress. Early Human Development 86(12): 813-816.
• Reissland, N. & Hopkins, B. (2010). Introduction: towards a fetal psychology. Infant and Child Development 19(1): 1-5.
• Reissland, N. Hopkins, B., Helms, P. & Williams, B. (2009). Maternal stress and depression and the lateralisation of infant cradling. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 50(3): 263-269.
• Reissland, N. & Shepherd, J. (2006). The effect of maternal depressed mood on infant emotional reaction in a surprise-eliciting situation. Infant Mental Health Journal 27(2): 173-187.
• Herrera,E., Reissland,N. & Shepherd,J. (2004). Maternal touch and maternal child-directed speech: effects of depressed mood in the postnatal period. Journal of Affective Disorders 81(1): 29-39.
• Herrera, E & Reissland, N (2003). Maternal depressed mood and speech in face to face interaction with6-and-10-month-old infants. Journal Of Reproductive And Infant Psychology 21(3): 245-245.
• Reissland, N & Herrera, E (2003). Teasing and bullying: comparing mothers with and without depressed moodduring play with their babies. Journal Of Reproductive And Infant Psychology 21(3): 248-249.
• Reissland, N., Shepherd, J. & Herrera, E. (2003). The pitch of maternal voice: a comparison of mothers suffering from depressed mood and non-depressed mothers reading books to their infants. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 44(2): 255-261.
• Reissland, N., Shepherd, J. & Cowie, L. (2002). The melody of surprise: maternal surprise vocalizations during play with her infant. Infant and Child Development 11(3): 271-278.
• Herrera, E & Reissland, N (2002). Maternal speech to 6 and 10 months old infants: a comparison of motherssuffering from depressed and non-depressed mood states. Journal Of Reproductive And Infant Psychology 20(3): 176-177.
• Reissland, N & Shepherd, J (2002). Gaze direction and maternal pitch in surprise-eliciting situations. Infant Behavior & Development 24(4): 408-417.
• Reissland, N (2001). The emergence of the speech capacity. Journal Of Language And Social Psychology 20(3): 382-384.
• Reissland, N (2001). Maternal sub clinical postnatal depression and infant expression ofsurprise. Journal Of Reproductive And Infant Psychology 19(3): 273-273.
• Reissland, N (2000). Expressing surprise: 2-10 month old infants' social referencing insurprise eliciting situations. Infant Mental Health Journal 21(4-5): 356-356.
• Reissland, N (2000). The cradling bias in relation to pitch of maternal child-directedlanguage. British Journal Of Developmental Psychology 18: 179-186.
• Reissland, N, Shepherd, J & Stephenson, T (1999). Maternal verbal interaction in different situations with infants bornprematurely or at term. Infant And Child Development 8(1): 39-48.
• Reissland, N & Stephenson, T (1999). Turn-taking in early vocal interaction: a comparison of premature andterm infants' vocal interaction with their mothers. Child Care Health And Development 25(6): 447-456.
• Reissland, N (1998). Context dependency in parental speech. British Journal Of Developmental Psychology 16: 365-373.
• Reissland, N (1998). The pitch of "real" and "rhetorical" questions directed by a father tohis daughter: A longitudinal case study. Infant Behavior & Development 21(4): 793-798.
• Reissland, N (1997). Emotional development - Sroufe,LA. British Journal Of Developmental Psychology 15: 248-249.
• Reissland, N (1996). Exploring affect - Demos,EV. British Journal Of Developmental Psychology 14: 369-370.
• Reissland, N & Snow, D (1996). Maternal pitch height in ordinary and play situations. Journal Of Child Language 23(2): 269-278.
• Reissland, N (1996). Mastery motivation in early childhood - Messer,DJ. British Journal Of Developmental Psychology 14: 255-256.
• Reissland, N (1994). The Socialisation of Pride in Young Children. International Journal of Behavioral Development 17(3): 541-552.
• REISSLAND, N & HARRIS, P (1991). CHILDRENS USE OF DISPLAY RULES IN PRIDE-ELICITING SITUATIONS. British Journal Of Developmental Psychology 9: 431-435.
• REISSLAND, N (1990). PARENTAL FRAMEWORKS OF PLEASURE AND PRIDE. Infant Behavior & Development 13(2): 249-256.
• REISSLAND, N & BURGHART, R (1989). ACTIVE PATIENTS - THE INTEGRATION OF MODERN AND TRADITIONAL OBSTETRICPRACTICES IN NEPAL. Social Science & Medicine 29(1): 43-52.
• REISSLAND, N (1989). CHILDREN IN THE FIELD - ANTHROPOLOGICAL EXPERIENCES - CASSELL,J. Man 24(1): 174-175.
• REISSLAND, N & BURGHART, R (1988). THE QUALITY OF A MOTHERS MILK AND THE HEALTH OF HER CHILD - BELIEFS ANDPRACTICES OF THE WOMEN OF MITHILA. Social Science & Medicine 27(5): 461-469.
• REISSLAND, N (1988). NEONATAL IMITATION IN THE 1ST HOUR OF LIFE - OBSERVATIONS IN RURAL NEPAL. Developmental Psychology 24(4): 464-469.
• REISSLAND, N & BURGHART, R (1987). THE ROLE OF MASSAGE IN SOUTH-ASIA - CHILD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT. Social Science & Medicine 25(3): 231-239.
• REISSLAND, N (1986). PARENTAL PRAISE OF TODDLERS TASK-PERFORMANCE - A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANDLONGITUDINAL-STUDY. Bulletin Of The British Psychological Society 39: A143-A144.
• Reissland, N. (1985). The development of concepts of simultaneity in childrens understanding of emotions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 26(5): 811-824.
• REISSLAND, N (1985). THE DEVELOPMENT OF TODDLERS PRIDE AND PLEASURE REACTIONS. Cahiers De Psychologie Cognitive-current Psychology Of Cognition 5(3-4): 293-293.
• REISSLAND, N (1985). THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDRENS PLEASURE REACTION IN SIBLINGS PLAY - WORKIN PROGRESS. Bulletin Of The British Psychological Society 38(FEB): A24-A24.
• JASPARS, J, REISSLAND, N & EGERTON, M (1984). SCHERER DYNAMIC CHEMISTRY OF EMOTIONS. Cahiers De Psychologie Cognitive-current Psychology Of Cognition 4(6): 607-613.
• Reissland, N. (1983). Cognitive maturity and the experience of fear and pain in hospital. Social Science & Medicine 17(18): 1389-1395.

Newspaper/Magazine Article

• Reissland, N. (2006). Teaching a baby the language of emotions: a father's experience. Zero-to-Three 27: 42-47.