Melissa Libertus

Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychology

Research Scientist, Learning Research & Development Center

Lab

https://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/kitlab/

Education and Training

PhD, Duke University

Research Interests

  • Neural and behavioral basis of numerical cognition
  • Development of quantitative understanding
  • Developmental cognitive neuroscience
  • Individual differences in math achievement
  • Relationship between working memory, attention, and mathematical abilities
  • Developmental dyscalculia
  • Interventions for math difficulties

Cognitive Neuroscience Community & Family-based Learning Developmental Neuroscience Imaging Methods Learning & Memory Numerical Cognition Socio-cultural Factors

Related Research Areas

Cognitive & Neural Foundations of Learning Developmental Processes and Outcomes STEM

Recent Publications

Silver, A. M., Chen, Y., Smith, D. K., Tamis-LeMonda, C. S., Cabrera, N. & Libertus, M. E. (2023). Mothers' and fathers' engagement in math activities with their toddler sons and daughters: The moderating role of parental math beliefs.  Frontiers in Psychology.  

Silver, A. M., Elliott, L., Reynvoet, B., Sasanguie, D., & Libertus, M. E. (2022). Teasing apart the unique contributions of cognitive and affective predictors of math performance. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.  

Ren, X., Liu, R., Coutanche, M.N. ,Fiez, J.A., & Libertus, M.E. (2022). Numerical estrangement and integration between symbolic and non-symbolic numerical information: Task-dependence and its link to math abilities in adults. Cognition.  

Silver, A. M. & Libertus, M. E. (2022). Environmental influences on mathematics performance in early childhood. Nature Reviews Psychology. 

Bachman, H.J., Miller, P.,  Elliott, L.,  Duong, S.,  Libertus, M., & Votruba Drzal, E. (2022). Associations among socioeconomic status and preschool-aged children’s, number skills, and spatial skills: The role of executive function, Journal of Experimental Child Psychology,   Volume 221. 

Melissa Libertus's Google Scholar profile

News and Awards

LRDC Research Scientist Melissa Libertus and Board of Visitors member Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Temple University, were quoted in the March 7 New York Post.

March 13, 2023

View

LRDC Research Scientist Melissa Libertus was featured in January 6 , 2023, Daily UK News.

January 9, 2023

View

Andrew Ribner, Alex Silver, Leanne Elliott, and Melissa Libertus were featured in a LRDC brief, "Parent-child Interaction is Important for Effective Early Math Intervention."

September 14, 2022

View

Alex Silver, Melissa Libertus, and Leanne Elliot were featured in the March 2022 LRDC Research News article "Studying the Cognitive and Affective Predictors of Math Performance."

January 28, 2022

View

Melissa Libertus, LRDC Research Scientist, was the focus of the March 2 Institute for Learning's newsletter, answering questions on numeracy and math sense in young children.

March 2, 2021

View

[Person photo]

Contact

626 MURDC

libertus@pitt.edu

(412) 624-7457

View CV