The emergence of the ability to understand the perspective of others, engage in satisfying social interactions, and gain social autonomy are key moments in human development. Disruptions in the brain-behaviour relationships that support these social milestones can upset the delicate interplay between environmental, neural, and cognitive factors that foster social competence, leading to social impairments and maladaptive behaviours. Empirical evidence from social neuroscience supports the idea that there is a "social brain" responsible for social-cognitive skills, such as theory of mind, empathy and moral reasoning. Neuropsychologists therefore play a critical role in understanding, assessing, and remediating social processes and are uniquely positioned to contribute to developing novel research and clinical tools. Drawing on theoretical models, empirical research, clinical cases, and innovations in digital health, this talk will explore the power of early developmental assessment for understanding social development and how combining scientific, clinical, industrial, and community perspectives can catalyze the development of practical tools for assessing and optimizing social skills. In sum, we will explore the myriad ways neuropsychologists can cross clinical, scientific, and pedagogical boundaries and enrich the social landscape.
Miriam Beauchamp, PhD is a neuropsychologist, Full professor in the Department of Psychology at the Université de Montréal and Head of the Brain & Development Axis at the Sainte-Justine Hospital Azrieli Research Center. She holds the Canada Research Chair in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). With her research group (ABCs Laboratory, www.abcs.umontreal.ca), she conducts clinical research projects aimed at better understanding the diagnosis, prognosis and consequences of pediatric TBI and concussion, as well as validating intervention and prevention programs. Her research at the crossroads of social neuroscience and neuropsychology also contribute to the development of new assessment and intervention methods in social cognition, including dynamic, immersive technologies such as digital health apps, virtual reality, and serious video games. These efforts have led to numerous knowledge transfer initiatives for the general public, such as the COCO early childhood concussion platform (www.coco.umontreal.ca) and the validation of several neuropsychological measures.
In 2017, she received the Prix du Québec Relève scientifique, the highest distinction awarded by the Quebec government for an early-career scientist. She has received Early Career Awards from the International Neuropsychological Society (2015) and the International Brain Injury Association (2017). In 2019, she was named to the Royal Society of Canada's College of New Researchers and Creators in Arts and Science, she was awarded the Quebec-Belgium Research Chair, and received the Expertise & Compétence award at the CHU Sainte-Justine recognition gala. In 2024, she was awarded the Brenda Milner Prize from the Quebec Association of Neuropsychologists (AQNP) and in 2025, she received the Effervescence Innovation prize for her work in digital health. In 2025, she was elected as the incoming President of the International Neuropsychological Society.
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