Relying on PRIME young adults limits cognitive science

Patricia L. Lockwood; Wouter van den Bos

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2025.06.010

Relying on PRIME young adults limits cognitive science

Patricia L. Lockwood^*
, Wouter van den Bos

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Cognitive science has made remarkable strides in understanding cognition and behaviour. However, a critical issue persists. Most studies focus on PRIME populations - young adults who are productive, researchable, independent, mobile, and educated. While convenient, the overreliance on them has profound implications for generalising research findings and addressing global challenges.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	684-686
Number of pages	3
Journal	Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Volume	29
Issue number	8
Early online date	1 Jul 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2025.06.010
Publication status	Published - 5 Aug 2025

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Humans
Cognitive Science
Young Adult
Cognition/physiology

Access to Document

10.1016/j.tics.2025.06.010Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

LockwoodPL2025RelyingFinal published version, 324 KBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

Philip Leverhulme Prize - Patricia Lockwood
Lockwood, P. (Principal Investigator)
Leverhulme Trust
1/11/22 → 31/12/26
Project: Research
Neurocomputational mechanisms of prosocial behaviour in health, development and disorder
Lockwood, P. (Principal Investigator)
The Wellcome Trust
14/04/22 → 13/04/27
Project: Research

Cite this

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title = "Relying on PRIME young adults limits cognitive science",

abstract = "Cognitive science has made remarkable strides in understanding cognition and behaviour. However, a critical issue persists. Most studies focus on PRIME populations - young adults who are productive, researchable, independent, mobile, and educated. While convenient, the overreliance on them has profound implications for generalising research findings and addressing global challenges.",

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AB - Cognitive science has made remarkable strides in understanding cognition and behaviour. However, a critical issue persists. Most studies focus on PRIME populations - young adults who are productive, researchable, independent, mobile, and educated. While convenient, the overreliance on them has profound implications for generalising research findings and addressing global challenges.

KW - Humans

KW - Cognitive Science

KW - Young Adult

KW - Cognition/physiology

U2 - 10.1016/j.tics.2025.06.010

DO - 10.1016/j.tics.2025.06.010

M3 - Review article

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JO - Trends in Cognitive Sciences

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Relying on PRIME young adults limits cognitive science

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Projects

Philip Leverhulme Prize - Patricia Lockwood

Neurocomputational mechanisms of prosocial behaviour in health, development and disorder

Cite this