Adele Diamond

Adele Diamond, PhD, FRSC is the Canada Research Chair Tier I Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, she has been named one of the “2000 Outstanding Women of the 20th Century,” has been listed as one the 15 most influential neuroscientists alive today, and her impact was recently ranked among the top 0.01% of all scientists across all fields. She received her BA from Swarthmore (Phi Beta Kappa), her PhD from Harvard, and was a postdoctoral fellow at Yale Medical School.

Prof. Diamond co-founded the field of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience and continues to be recognized as a world leader in both Psychology and Neuroscience as evidenced by her impact, awards, success in research funding, leadership roles, and abundant invitations to speak across disciplines, professions, and nations. She has held federal research grants continuously for over 40 years and overseen over $24 million in research funding. She has given over 600 keynote addresses and invited talks, including at the White House and to the Dalai Lama as well as in 38 countries across 6 continents. Her work has been cited over 58,000 times and has an h-index of 74. She heads the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Program at UBC, has served on over 25 external advisory boards and 10 editorial boards, including those of all 3 major journals in Developmental Psychology.

Prof. Diamond’s specialty is executive functions, which depend on the brain’s prefrontal cortex and interrelated neural regions. Executive functions enable us to resist temptations and automatic impulsive reactions, stay focused, mentally play with ideas, reason, problem-solve, flexibly adjust to changed demands or priorities, and see things from new and different perspectives. Prof. Diamond’s lab studies how executive functions are affected by biological factors (such as genes and neurochemistry) and by environmental ones (for example, impaired by stress or improved by interventions).

She has demonstrated that executive functions emerge and can be assessed as early as the first year of life, and shown that interventions can improve executive functions even in very young children. Her work has demonstrated ways to help children grasp concepts and succeed at tasks long thought beyond their ability and has changed how people think about cognitive development in emphasizing the importance of inhibiting reactions that get in the way of demonstrating knowledge that is already present.

Her work on the unusual properties of the dopamine system in prefrontal cortex led to her identifying the biological mechanism causing executive function deficits in children treated for phenylketonuria (PKU) and definitively documenting those deficits and their effect on the brain, resulting in guidelines for the medical treatment of PKU changing around the globe – an example of how changing behaviour (diet) can affect neurochemistry and brain function. Global changes to clinical practice followed two other subsequent discoveries by her. Thus, on three separate occasions her discoveries have led to improvements in the treatment of medical disorders.

More recently, Prof. Diamond has derived new principles for how to improve executive functions and debunked previously-accepted ones. She offers a markedly different perspective from traditional medical practice in holding that treating physical health, without also addressing social and emotional health, is less efficient or efficacious. Prof. Diamond also offers a markedly different perspective from mainstream education and has shown that focusing exclusively on training cognitive skills is less efficient, and ultimately less successful, than also addressing social, emotional, spiritual, and physical needs. She has shown that many issues are not simply education issues or health issues; they are both.

She has also been instrumental in bringing researchers and practitioners together across fields and in jump-starting countless collaborations. One of her many humanitarians projects was recently recognized by the establishment of the “Adele Diamond Foundation” in her honour to further efforts to help Maasai children receive a quality education.

Effects of Low-dose versus Normal-dose Psychostimulants on Executive Functions in Children with ADHD

The research is based on the hypothesis that the stimulant dose for controlling hyperactivity in patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is too high for aiding cognition. Most ADHD patients on stimulants are taking a dose targeting behavioural dysregulation (parents base feedback to doctors on the child’s behavior; no one uses cognitive tests to determine dose). The research will test the prediction that ADHD patients will perform better on tests of attention, working memory, reading and math when on half their dose. Read more…

A follow-up to the MPH studies with ADHD kids and normal adults – to look at effects of a low dose of MPH on the EFs and academic performance of stressed university students. Who does MPH help and who does it hinder?

The optimal level of the neurotransmitter, dopamine (DA), in prefrontal cortex (PFC) is an intermediate level. Too much or too little is no good. Psychostimulants like MPH increase DA in PFC. Stress increases DA in PFC, and many university students are stressed these days. The research hypothesizes that the combination of stress + MPH will increase the levels of DA in PFC best optimum and impair EFs and hence school performance, and that this will be particularly pronounced for students with the COMT genotype associated with more DA in PFC. Read more…

Can training balance, or enjoying music, improve children’s ability to pay attention, solve problems and/or control their behavior?

What if just 15 minutes a day, at home, doing simple activities, could improve a child’s executive functions as well as his or her balance? The same or overlapping brain regions underlie both cognitive and motor functions. Read more…

Possible Benefits to Mood, Quality of Life, Memory, and Executive Functions of Beloved Music with or without Social Interaction or Beloved Writings (e.g., Poetry, Stories, Psalms) for Adults Experiencing Mild Cognitive Decline

Music on iPods has been found to tap wells of emotion in older adults with significant cognitive decline, bringing back memories and remarkable cognitive reserve that had been thought lost. Read more…

The Effect of an Enriched Karate Program on Executive Functions and Socio-Emotional and Academic Skills in Typically-Developing Children

Unlike other approaches to improving executive functions (EFs), traditional martial arts do not focus solely on training EFs or physical fitness but also address character and mindfulness. To further enhance the benefit of traditional martial arts for social-emotional well-being and EFs, graduate student and experienced TMA instructor, Fatimah Bahrami, created a comprehensive Traditional Cognitive Karate Program (TCKP), incorporating social and emotional training into the philosophy of Karate, and more cognitive skills and EF practice into Karate training routines. Read more…

Peer-reviewed publications

• 2024
  • Awarded an honorary Doctor of Science honoris causa by Cambridge University, reserved for individuals of outstanding national and international achievement in their field
• 2023
  • Arthur L. Benton Lecture. New York Neuropsychology Group
  • Faculty Merit Award, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
• 2022
  • Recipient, Huttenlocher Award. The Flux Society for Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience’s most prestigious award honors a senior scientist who’s made foundational, major contributions to the field
  • Elsevier Distinguished Lecturer. Developmental Neurotoxicology Society
  • Faculty Merit Award, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
  • Awarded Lifetime Membership in the American Psychological Association
• 2021
  • Faculty Merit Award, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
• 2020
  • Awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by Swarthmore College: the #1 ranked small college in the US VIDEO
  • Voted `Super Duper Neuroscientist of the Year’ by the students in Prof. Kathryn Murphy’s undergraduate neuroscience class at McMaster Univ., Hamilton, ON (08 Dec)
  • “Executive Functions,” published in the Annual Review of Psychology back in 2013 was among the 10 most downloaded papers in 2020 from all Annual Reviews across all disciplines.
• 2019
  • Outstanding Academic Performance (OAP) award by the Dean of Medicine.
  • The Bernice Grafstein Lecture in Neuroscience, McGill Univ., Montreal, QC
  • Diamond’s impact ranked as among the top 0.01% of all scientists across all scientific fields according to a new analysis. See: Ioannidis, J. P., Baas, J., Klavans, R., & Boyack, K. W. (2019). A standardized citation metrics author database annotated for scientific field. PLOS Biology, 17,1-6. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3000384
  • One of our publications was selected as 1 of the 23 most noteworthy publications in Pediatric Exercise in 2018 and 1 of the 2 most important in Physical Activity & Cognition in 2018 [doi.org/10.1123/pes.2019-0010]. The publication thus honored is: Diamond, A. & Ling, D. S. (2019). Aerobic-exercise and resistance-training interventions… published in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience [doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2018.05.001]
  • The Bernice Grafstein Lecture in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC.
• 2018
  • Outstanding Academic Performance Award from UBC Faculty of Medicine
  • First Annual North America Educateurs sans Frontières Lecture. Crossway Community, Washington, DC.
  • 10th Annual Midsummer Public Lecture. Copenhagen, Denmark (sponsored by Elsass Institute & the University of Copenhagen).
• 2016
  • Received the International Mind, Brain and Education Society (IMBES) Translation Award
  • This award recognizes senior scholars who’ve made significant progress towards strengthening links between research and practice translating research into practice in traditional or non-traditional contexts.
  • (This is the highest award that society gives.)
  • Recipient, Faculty Merit Award, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
  • Our article in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience was the 2nd top-rated paper in the journal
  • Centennial Niemeyer Lecture. Bank Street School for Children, NYC, NY
  • Lecture – Performance co-presented with the children of the California Dance Institute at Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
• 2015
  • Honorary degree (Doctor of Philosophy Honoris Causa) conferred by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. VIDEO 1 (3 min), VIDEO 2 (1 hour 8 min)
  • Zlotowski Neuroscience Lecture, Ben Gurion Univ. of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
• 2014
  • Recognized as one of the 15 most influential neuroscientists alive today by Online Psychology Degree Guide Only woman in the top 23. One of only two Canadians in the top 30.
  • Received the Urie Bronfenbrenner Award for Lifetime Contributions to Developmental Psychology in the Service of Science and Society from the American Psychological Association. (Aug.) The Bronfenbrenner Award is given to an individual whose work has, over a lifetime career, contributed not only to the science of developmental psychology, but who has also worked to apply developmental psychology to society.
  • Elected a Fellow of Division 1 (General Psychology) of the Am. Psychological Assoc. (APA)
• 2013
  • Gertrude Weigum Hinsz Lecture, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND
  • Visiting Professor. Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel
  • Recipient, Faculty Merit Award, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
• 2012
  • Pease Family Scholar Lecture, Dept. of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
  • Zangwill Lecture in Experimental Psychology, Univ. of Cambridge, UK
  • Diamond’s article in Current Directions in Psych. Sci. appeared in Psychology Progress, which alerts the scientific community to breaking journal articles considered the best in psych.research
  • Profiled in a textbook titled Child Psychology, 3rd edition, by Alastair J. Younger, Ross Vasta, Scott A. Adler, Scott A. Miller, & Shari Ellis – in the ‘Canadian Contributions’ section – publisher: John Wiley & Sons
  • Public Address, sponsored by the Dalai Lama Centre, Vancity Theatre, Vancouver, BC
  • Worldwide Who’s Who: 2012- present
• 2011
  • Inaugural speaker in Visiting Distinguished Scholar Program, Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute & School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA
  • Frijda Public Lecture, Cognitive Science Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Logan Lecture, Centennial Academy, Montreal, QC
  • Pickering Lecture, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON
  • Renewal – seven years – of Tier 1 Canada Research Chair
  • Recipient, Faculty Merit Award, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
• 2010
  • Valedictory Address, “Conference on Science, Spirituality, and Education;” presided over by the Dalai Lama, to advise the Government of Sikkim in its endeavor to overhaul the provincial education system so that they educate not only the head but also the heart, Gangtok, Sikkim, India
  • Recipient, Faculty Merit Award, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
  • Jane Holmes Bernstein Lecture in Developmental Neuropsychology, Children’s Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA
  • Robbie Case Memorial Lecture, University of Toronto’s Institute of Child Study, Toronto, ON
  • Featured at Annual UBC Gala, “Celebrate Research Week,” a short video vignette was created for this on Prof. Diamond and her research
• 2009
  • Recipient, YWCA Woman of Distinction Award (recognized nationally as an important award for women)
  • Recipient, Inaugural Distinguished Achievement Award for Service to the University and Community, awarded by the Faculty of Medicine, UBC
  • Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC)
  • Elected a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Psychologists (SEP), the oldest honorary society for psychology
  • Recipient, Faculty Merit Award, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
  • One of three scientists invited to speak on stage with the Dalai Lama and another Nobel Peace Laureate, Mairead Maguire, on “Heart-Mind Education: Enhancing academic, social, and emotional competence” at the Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver; broadcast live worldwide by CTV as part of the Vancouver Peace Summit VIDEO
  • One of a handful of scientists invited to meet with the Dalai Lama for a week at his official residence in Dharamsala, India
  • Featured Researcher at the Board of Governor’s Meeting, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
  • Helen H. Molinari Memorial Lecture in Neuroscience, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY
  • John P. Zubek Memorial Lecture, Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg
• 2008
  • Named a William James Distinguished Lecturer by the Association for Psychological Science
  • RO Jones Memorial Speaker, Canadian Psychiatric Assoc. Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC
  • Birch Lecture, International Neuropsychological Society (INS) Annual meeting, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Recipient, Faculty Merit Award, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
  • Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals, and in the 2008-2009 “Honors Edition”
• 2007
  • Opening of the Academic Year Address, Maastricht University, Netherlands VIDEO
  • Recipient, Faculty Merit Award, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
  • Research Grant from the Institute of Education Sciences [IES] (term: 2007-2011)
• 2006
  • Elected a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science (APS)
  • Recipient, Faculty Merit Award, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
  • Alberta Health FMR Visiting Scholar, Alberta Children’s Hospital, University of Alberta, & Hotckiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB
  • Woman of Distinction Finalist, YWCA Vancouver, BC
• 2005
  • Elected to the Board of Governors of the International Neuropsychological Society (INS)
  • Recipient, Faculty Merit Award, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
  • Brain Awareness Week Lecturer, McMaster University’s Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, Dept. of Psychology, and Brain-Body Institute, Hamilton, ON
  • Henry Dunn Lecture, the Northwest Pacific Pediatric Neurology Society Annual Meeting
  • Our paper in the American Journal of Psychiatry was ranked #2 in the Hidden Jewels Top 10 in Neuroscience by the Faculty of 1000.
  • Hira Panikkar Memorial Lecture, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, BC Children’s Hospital
• 2004
  • Awarded a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair
  • Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Award
  • Invited Workshop at joint Internat’l Neuropsych. Society/ASSBI conference, Brisbane, Australia
• 2003
  • Elected to the Executive Board of the Cognitive Development Society
  • Visiting Professor, University of California, San Francisco
• 2002
  • Invited Workshop on “The Neuropsychology of Treated PKU,” International Neuropsychological Society (INS) Annual Meeting, Toronto, ON
• 2000
  • 21st Century Award for Achievement, International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, UK, named one of the “2000 Outstanding Women of the 20th Century,”one of the first so honoured.
  • Zlotowski Neuroscience Lecture, Annual Retreat of the Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben Gurion Univ.
  • Named one of the “2000 Outstanding Women of the 20th Century,” IBC, Cambridge, UK.
• 1997
  • Named a Distinguished Scientific Lecturer by the American Psychological Association:
  • Eastern Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Washington, DC
  • Western Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA
  • Elected a Fellow of APA, Division 6 (Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology) “in recognition of outstanding & unusual contributions to the science and profession of psychology”
• 1995
  • Invited Instructor, Am. Academy of Neurology course on Behavioral Neurology, Seattle, WA.
  • Presented the Master Lecture on Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Indianapolis, IN.
  • “A Master Lecture is intended as a sort of tutorial in a particular field….The individuals invited to deliver these major addresses are people who are widely recognized as leaders in their fields….”
• 1994
  • Presented day-long workshop on “Child Neuropsychology: Cognitive Development & Disorders,” in Brisbane, at invitation of the Australian Psychological Society
  • Tjossem Memorial Lecture at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
  • McDonnell-Pew Visiting Fellow at the Salk Institute and UCSD, La Jolla, CA.
• 1993
  • Elected a Fellow of APA, Division 7 (Developmental Psychology) “in recognition of outstanding & unusual contributions to the science and profession of psychology”
• 1992
  • Harris Visiting Professor, Committee on Developmental Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
• 1991
  • Invited Instructor at the McDonnell Summer Institute in Cognitive Neuroscience, Hanover, New Hampshire (topic: Attention)
  • Invited Instructor at the European Training Programme in Brain & Behavior Research, Zuoz, Switzerland (topic: Motor Development)
• 1990
  • Invited by NSF to help select the Presidential Young Investigator Award winners
  • Young Faculty Award of the Natural Science Association, University of Pennsylvania
• 1989
  • Convener, Conference on the Development and Neural Bases of Higher Cognitive Functions. Funded by McDonnell Foundation, NIMH (Neuroscience and
  • Behavioral Research Branches), EPA, & U. of P. New York Academy of Sciences, publisher.
  • Discussant, Minnesota Symposium in Child Psychology, Minneapolis, MN.
• 1988-1990
  • Lilly Foundation Faculty Teaching Fellow
• 1983-1986
  • NIMH Postdoctoral Fellowship #F32 MH09007
• 1983
  • NSF travel grant to attend a NATO Advanced Study Institute, Lyons, France
• 1982
  • Sloan Foundation postdoctoral fellowship award
• 1981
  • Radcliffe Grant for Graduate Women
• 1980
  • NSF Doctoral Dissertation Grant #BNS 8013-4471978
• 1977
  • NIMH Pre-doctoral Traineeship in Cross-Cultural Psychological Res. #MH14088-03
  • Graduate Student Research Award, Psychology Department
• 1975
  • NSF Graduate Fellowship
  • Danforth Graduate Fellowship
  • Graduated with highest honor in Swarthmore College’s course program
  • Research Grant from the Philadelphia Fellowship Commission