Marlena Mayer

Marlena Mayer is a Research Fellow at the Center for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, investigating how physical and social environments shape early cognitive development in infants and toddlers.

Her academic background includes:

• Dr. rer. nat. in Psychology, Universität Hamburg, Germany (2025)
• MSc in Human Cognitive Neuropsychology, University of Edinburgh, UK (2019)
• BA (Hons) in Linguistics, Lancaster University, UK (2017)

Mayer's research focuses on socio-cognitive development during infancy, employing advanced methodologies like pupillometry to examine foundational processes such as object permanence and social goal understanding. Her work bridges environmental neuroscience and developmental science to uncover how contextual factors influence neural and cognitive trajectories in early life.

Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a strong emphasis on rigorous infant cognition research, utilizing multi-lab collaborations to investigate core cognitive milestones. These studies prioritize methodological innovation and cross-laboratory validation to advance understanding of preverbal cognitive development.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards documented in source materials

While no advised students or specific grants are listed, Mayer's participation in large-scale collaborative projects like The Pupil Collaboration indicates engagement with team-based, externally funded research initiatives exploring fundamental questions in developmental science.

She actively contributes to the Environmental Neuroscience Research Team, focusing on interdisciplinary investigations of how environmental contexts modulate developmental processes from infancy through early childhood.