Prof Mills' is interested in the effects of experience on brain plasticity and cognition across the lifespan. Current projects include the effects of bilingualism and lifestyle factors on executive functions in a) children from 1 to 4 years of age, and b) adults over age 65.  In another line of research she studies links across genes, brain, and social cognition in neurodevelopmental disorders such as Williams Syndrome. Her research uses a combined behavioural and brain imaging (EEG/fMRI) approach to examine the neurobiology of language and cognitive development.

Director for Research at Tir na n'Og Child Development Centre and Nursery

Professor Debbie Mills is a member of the Cognitive Neuroscience Research Institute

• BA: Psychology
  University of California, Los Angeles,
• PhD: Psychology
  University of California, San Diego,
• MA: Educational Psychology
  University of California, Santa Barbara,

Professor Mills is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

She is currently Module Organiser for the MSc module Biological Bases of Neurodevelopmental Disorders and teaches on the MSc Research Methods in Bilingualism module and UG module on Langauge and its Disorders. 

In previous years she was Module Organiser for Methods in Event-related Potentials, and undergraduate modules in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience and Infancy.

Professor Mills regularly supervises research students at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral levels.

Current PhD research students include:  Caitlin O'Riordan

Brain and language development, Williams syndrome, interactions between genes, brain, and behaviour

Professor Debbie Mills is a member of the Cognitive Development Research Institute

I am currently accepting applications for PhD, MPhil, and MRes students for projects on 1) Neurobiology of the effects of experiential factors, such as bilingualism, on executive functions in older adults, and 2) Bilingual vocabulary development and speech perception. Students with self- or external funding are welome. I am also interested in PhD researchers applying forESRC Wales DTP studentships in Bilingualism or Psychology.

2025

• PublishedAttention induces a left hemispheric lateralization for three-dimensional shape from shading: an ERP study
  Matthews, J., Marí-Beffa, P., Mills, D. & Sapir, A., 29 Mar 2025.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review
• Accepted/In pressBrain lateralization for perceiving direction of motion is reversed in Williams syndrome and related to BUD23: Genetic Influence of BUD23 on Reversed Brain Lateralization and Motion Perception in Williams Syndrome
  Mills, D., Dai, L. & Korenberg, J. R., 1 Jan 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Scientific Reports.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2024

• PublishedAttention facilitates three-dimensional shape from shading
  Matthews, J., Mills, D. & Sapir, A., 25 Aug 2024.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review
• Accepted/In pressGender in teacher-student interactions: Another factor in spatial ability development and STEM affiliation
  Gamarra Burga, E., Tenbrink, T. & Mills, D., 8 Mar 2024, (Accepted/In press) Spatial Cognition Conference Proceedings 2024. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science).
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

2023

• PublishedThe Role of Top-Down Attention in Shape from Shading
  Matthews, J., Earnshaw, L., Mills, D. & Sapir, A., 27 Aug 2023.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review

2021

• PublishedDevelopment of the N400 for Word Learning in the First 2 Years of Life: A Systematic Review
  Junge, C., Boumeester, M., Mills, D. L., Paul, M. & Cosper, S. H., 30 Jun 2021, In: Frontiers in Psychology: Language Sciences. 12, 24 p., 689534.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

2018

• PublishedLearning a second language after age 30 keeps your brain young
  O'Riordan, C.-E., Mills, D., Neofytou, E. & Roch, N., 21 Sept 2018.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
• PublishedVocabulary of 2-year-olds learing English and an additional language: Nroms and effecs of linguistic distance
  Floccia, C., Sambrook, T., Delle Luche, C., Kwok, R., Goslin, J., White, L., Cattani, A., Sullivan, E., Gervain, J., Abbott-Smith, K., Krott, A., Mills, D., Rowland, C. & Plunkett, K., Mar 2018, In: Monographs for the Society for Research in Child Development. 83, 1, p. 1-135
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2017

• PublishedAbnormalities in visual processing lead to hypersociability and evaluation of trust: An ERP study of Williams syndrome
  Shore, D., Ng, R., Bellugi, U. & Mills, D., Oct 2017, In: Cognitive, Affective and Behavioural Neuroscience. 17, 5, p. 1002-1017 16 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2016

• PublishedDeletion of 7q11.23 Genes and Williams Syndrome
  Dai, L., Jarvinen-Pasley, A., Bellugi, U., Mills, D., Brown, T., Halgren, E., Pober, B. & Korenberg, J. R., 8 Sept 2016, Epstein's Inborn Errors of Development: : The Molecular Basis of Clinical Disorders of Morphogenesis. Erickson, R. P. & Wynshaw-Boris, A. J. (eds.). Third ed. Oxford University Press, (Oxford Monographs on Medical Genetics).
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2014

• PublishedMapping Genetically Controlled Neural Circuits of Social Behavior and Visuo-Motor Integration by a Preliminary Examination of Atypical Deletions with Williams Syndrome
  Hoeft, F., Dai, L., Hass, B. W., Sheau, K., Mimura, M., Mills, D. L., Galaburda, A., Bellugi, U., Korenberg, J. R. & Reiss, A. L., 8 Aug 2014, In: PLoS ONE. 9, 8, p. e104088
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2013

• PublishedGenetic Mapping of Brain Plasticity Across Development in Williams Syndrome: ERP Markers of Face and Language Processing
  Mills, D. L., Dai, L., Fishman, I., Yam, A., Appelbaum, L. G., St. George, M., Galaburda, A., Bellugi, U. & Korenberg, J. R., 12 Nov 2013, In: Developmental Neuropsychology. 38, 8, p. 613-642
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedNeuroimaging Methods
  Dick, F., Loyd-Fox, S., Blasi, A., Elwell, C. & Mills, D., 1 Dec 2013, Handbook of Educational Neuroscience. Mareschal, D., Butterworth, B. & Tolmie, A. (eds.). Wiley-Blackwell, p. 13-45
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2012

• PublishedVowels in early words: an event-related potential study
  Mani, N., Mills, D. L. & Plunkett, K., 1 Jan 2012, In: Developmental Science. 15, 1, p. 2-11
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2011

• PublishedContrasting patterns of language-associated brain activity in autism and Williams syndrome.
  Fishman, I., Yam, A., Bellugi, U., Lincoln, A. & Mills, D. L., 1 Oct 2011, In: Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 6, 5, p. 630-638
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedLanguage and sociability: insights from Williams syndrome
  Fishman, I., Yam, A., Bellugi, U. & Mills, D. L., 1 Sept 2011, In: Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. 3, 3, p. 185-192
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2010

• PublishedA preliminary study of orbitofrontal activation and hypersociability in Williams Syndrome.
  Mimura, M., Hoeft, F., Kato, M., Kobayashi, N., Sheau, K., Piggot, J., Mills, D. L., Galaburda, A., Korenberg, J. R., Bellugi, U. & Reiss, A. L., 26 Jan 2010, In: Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. 2, 2, p. 93-98
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedAffiliative behavior in Williams syndrome: Social perception and real-life social behavior.
  Jarvinen-Pasley, A., Adolphs, R., Yam, A., Hill, K. J., Grichanik, M., Reilly, J., Mills, D. L., Reiss, A. L., Korenberg, J. R. & Bellugi, U., 1 Jun 2010, In: Neuropsychologia. 48, 7, p. 2110-2119
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedAtypical hemispheric asymmetry in the perception of negative human vocalizations in individuals with Williams syndrome
  Jarvinen-Pasley, A., Pollak, S. D., Yam, A., Hill, K. J., Grichanik, M., Mills, D. L., Reiss, A. L., Korenberg, J. R. & Bellugi, U., 1 Mar 2010, In: Neuropsychologia. 48, 4, p. 1047-1052
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedCross-modal influences of affect across social and non-social domains in individuals with Williams syndrome
  Jarvinen-Pasley, A., Vines, B. W., Hill, K., Yam, A., Grichanik, M., Mills, D. L., Reiss, A., Korenberg, J. R. & Bellugi, U., 1 Jan 2010, In: Neuropsychologia. 48, 2, p. 456-466
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedIndividual differences in social behavior predict amygdala response to fearful facial expressions in Williams Syndrome.
  Haas, B., Hoeft, F., Searcy, Y., Mills, D. L., Bellugi, U. & Reiss, A., 1 Apr 2010, In: Neuropsychologia. 48, 5, p. 1283-1288
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedIntelligence in Williams syndrome is related to STX1A, which encodes a component of the presynaptic SNARE Complex
  Gao, M. C., Bellugi, U., Dai, L., Mills, D., Sobel, E. M., Lange, K. & korenberg, J. R., 2010, In: PLoS ONE. 5, 4, 8 p., e10292.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedThe fusiform face area is enlarged in Williams Syndrome.
  Golarai, G., Hong, S., Haas, B., Galaburda, A., Mills, D. L., Bellugi, U., Grill-Spector, K. & Reiss, A., 12 May 2010, In: Journal of Neuroscience. 30, 19, p. 6700-6712
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2009

• PublishedEarly communicative development and the social brain.
  Mills, D. L., Conboy, B., De Haan, M. (Editor) & Gunnar, M. R. (Editor), 1 Jan 2009, Handbook of social development neuroscience. 2009 ed. Guildford Press, p. 175-207
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
• PublishedGenetic influences on sociability: Heightened amygdala reactivity and event-related responses to positive social stimuli in Williams syndrome
  Hass, B., Mills, D. L., Yam, A., Hoeft, F., Bellugi, U. & Reiss, A., 28 Jan 2009, In: Journal of Neuroscience. 29, 4, p. 1132-1139
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedIs It Williams Syndrome? GTF2IRD1 Implicated in Visual-Spatial Construction and GTF2I in Sociability Revealed by High Resolution Arrays.
  Dai, L., Bellugi, U., Chen, X. N., Pulst-Korenberg, A. M., Jarvinen-Pasley, A., Tirosh-Wagner, T., Eis, P. S., Graham, J., Mills, D. L., Searcy, Y. & Korenberg, J. R., 1 Mar 2009, In: American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A. 149A, 3, p. 302-314
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedWilliam’s syndrome: gene expression is related to parental origin and regional coordinate control
  Collette, J. C., Chen, X.-N., Mills, D., Galaburda, A., Reiss, A., Bellugi, U. & Korenberg, J. R., 2009, In: Journal of Human Genetics. 54, 4, p. 193-198 6 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2008

• PublishedAssociation Between Cerebral Shape and Social Use of Language in Williams Syndrome.
  Gothelf, D., Searcy, Y. M., Reilly, J., Lai, P. T., Lanre-Amos, T., Mills, D. L., Korenberg, J. R., Galaburda, A., Bellugi, U. & Reiss, A. L., 1 Nov 2008, In: American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A. 146A, 21, p. 2753-2761
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedDefining the social phenotype in Williams syndrome: A model for linking gene, the brain, and behavior
  Jarvinen-Pasley, A., Bellugi, U., Reilly, J., Mills, D. L., Galaburda, A., Reiss, A. & Korenberg, J. R., 1 Dec 2008, In: Development and Psychopathology. 20, 1, p. 1-35
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedDeletion of 7q11.23 Genes and Williams Syndrome
  Korenberg, J., Dai, L., Bellugi, U., Pasley, A., Mills, D. L., Galaburda, A., Reiss, A., Pober, B., Epstein, C. J. (Editor), Erickson, R. P. (Editor) & Wynshaw-Boris, A. (Editor), 1 Jan 2008, Inborn errors of development. 2008 ed. Oxford University Press, p. 1544-1555
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2007

• Published3D Pattern of brain abnormalisiteis in William syndrome visualized using tensor-based morphometry
  Chiang, M.-C., Reiss, A., Lee, A. D., Bellugi, U., Galaburda, A. M., Korenberg, J. R., Mills, D., Toga, A. W. & Thompson, P. M., 2007, In: Neuroimage. 36, 4, p. 1096-1109 16 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedDevelopmental changes in neural activity to familiar words and gestures.
  Sheehan, E. A., Namy, L. L. & Mills, D. L., 1 Jun 2007, In: Brain and Language. 101, 3, p. 246-259
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedExperience and developmental changes in the organization of language-relevant brain activity.
  Mills, D. L., Sheehan, E. A., Coch, D. (Editor), Fischer, K. W. (Editor) & Dawson, G. (Editor), 1 Jan 2007, Human behavior, learning, and the developing brain: Typical development.. 2007 ed. The Guilford Press, p. 183-218
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
• PublishedFrontostriatal dysfunction in Williams syndrome.
  Mobbs, D., Eckert, M. A., Mills, D. L., Korenberg, J., Bellugi, U., Galaburda, A. M. & Reiss, A. L., 1 Aug 2007, In: Biological Psychiatry. 62, 3, p. 256-261
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedIncreased brain activity to infant-directed speech in 6-and 13-month-old infants.
  Zangl, R. & Mills, D. L., 1 Jan 2007, In: Infancy. 11, 1, p. 31-62
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedMore is not always better: Increased fractional Anisotropy of superior longitudinal fasciculus associated with poor Visuospatial abilities in Williams syndrome.
  Hoeft, F., Barnea-Goraly, N., Haas, B. W., Golarai, G., Ng, D., Mills, D. L., Korenberg, J., Bellugi, U., Galaburda, A. & Reiss, A. L., 31 Oct 2007, In: Journal of Neuroscience. 27, 44, p. 11960-11965
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedReduced parietal and visual cortical activation during global processing in Williams syndrome
  Mobbs, D., Eckert, M. A., Menon, V., Mills, D., Korenberg, J. R., Galaburda, A., Rose, F., Bellugi, U. & Reiss, A., 2007, In: Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 49, p. 433-438 6 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2006

• PublishedAnomalous Sylvian fissure morphology in Williams syndrome.
  Eckert, M. A., Galaburda, A. M., Karchmskiy, A., Liang, A., Thompson, P., Dutton, R. A., Lee, A. D., Bellugi, U., Korenberg, J. R., Mills, D. L., Rose, F. E. & Reiss, A. L., 15 Oct 2006, In: Neuroimage. 33, 1, p. 39-45
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedEffects of acoustic distortion & semantic context on event-related potentials to spoken words.
  Aydelott, J., Dick, F. & Mills, D. L., 1 Sept 2006, In: Psychophysiology. 43, 5, p. 454-464
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedIncreased local gyrification mapped in Williams syndrome
  Gaser, C., Luders, E., Thompson, P. M., Lee, A. D., Dutton, R. A., Geaga, J. A., Hayashi, K. M., Bellugi, U., Galaburda, A., Korenberg, J., Mills, D. L., Toga, A. W. & Reiss, A. L., 15 Oct 2006, In: Neuroimage. 33, 1, p. 46-54
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedLanguage development in Williams syndrome.
  Karmiloff-Smith, A., Mills, D. L. & Brown, K. (Editor), 1 Jan 2006, Encyclopedia of language and linguistics: Second edition, Volume 13, Language acquisition. 2006 ed. Elsevier, p. 585-589
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
• PublishedThe neurobiology of Williams syndrome: Cascading influences of visual system impairment?
  Eckert, M. A., Galaburda, A. M., Mills, D. L., Bellugi, U., Korenberg, J. R. & Reiss, A. L., 1 Aug 2006, In: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 63, 16, p. 1867-1875
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedTo modulate or not to modulate: Differing results in uniquely shaped Williams syndrome brains.
  Eckert, M. A., Tenforde, A., Galaburda, A. M., Bellugi, U., Korenberg, J. R., Mills, D. L. & Reiss, A. L., 1 Sept 2006, In: Neuroimage. 32, 3, p. 1001-1007
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedTwo languages, one developing brain: Event-related potentials to words in bilingual toddlers.
  Conboy, B. T. & Mills, D. L., 1 Jan 2006, In: Developmental Science. 9, 1, p. F1-F12
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2005

• PublishedAbnormal cortical complexity and thickness profiles mapped in Williams syndrome.
  Thompson, P. M., Lee, A. D., Dutton, R. A., Geaga, J. A., Hayashi, K. M., Eckert, M. A., Bellugi, U., Galaburda, A. M., Korenberg, J. R., Mills, D. L., Toga, A. W. & Reiss, A. L., 20 Apr 2005, In: Journal of Neuroscience. 25, 16, p. 4146-4158
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedDo changes in brain organization reflect shifts in symbolic functioning?
  Mills, D. L., Conboy, B., Paton, C. & Namy, L. (Editor), 1 Jan 2005, Symbol Use and Symbolic Representation: Developmental and Comparative Perspectives. 2005 ed. Psychology Press, p. 123-153
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
• PublishedEvidence for superior parietal impairment in Williams syndrome
  Eckert, M. A., Hu, D., Eleiz, S., Bellugi, U., Galaburda, A., Korenberg, J., Mills, D. L. & Reiss, A. L., 11 Jan 2005, In: Neurology. 64, 1, p. 152-153
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedRelative sparing of primary auditory cortex in Williams Syndrome.
  Holinger, D. P., Bellugi, U., Mills, D. L., Korenberg, J. R., Reiss, A. L., Sherman, G. F. & Galaburda, A. M., 10 Mar 2005, In: Brain Research. 1037, 1-2, p. 35-42
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedWatching the infant brain learn words: effects of vocabulary size and experience.
  Mills, D. L., Plunkett, K., Prat, C. & Schafer, G., 1 Jan 2005, In: Cognitive Development. 20, 1, p. 19-31
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2004

• PublishedLanguage experience and the organization of brain activity to phonetically similar words: ERP evidence from 14- and 20-month olds.
  Mills, D. L., Prat, C., Stager, C., Zangl, R., Neville, H. & Werker, J., 1 Oct 2004, In: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 16, 8, p. 1452-1464
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2003

• PublishedEl síndrome de Williams. Un resumen de hallazgos cognitivos, electrofisiológicos, anatomofuncionales, microanatómicos y genéticos.
  Galaburda, A. M., Holinger, D., Mills, D. L., Reiss, A., Korenberg, J. R. & Bellugi, U., 20 Feb 2003, In: Revista de Neurologia. 38, Supplement 1, p. 132-137
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedWilliams Syndrome: A neurogenetic model of human behavior.
  Korenberg, J., Bellugi, U., Salandanan, L. S., Mills, D. L., Reiss, A. L. & Cooper, D. (Editor), 1 Jan 2003, Nature Encyclopedia of the Human Genome. 2003 ed. Nature, p. 757-766
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2001

• PublishedElectrophysiological studies of language development.
  St George, M., Mills, D. L., Weissenborn, J. (Editor) & Hoehle, B. (Editor), 1 Jan 2001, Language acquisition and language disorders. 2001 ed. John Benjamins Publishing, p. 247-259
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
• PublishedNeurophysiological markers of face processing in Williams syndrome.
  Mills, D. L., Alvarez, T. D., St George, M., Appelbaum, L. G., Bellugi, U. & Neville, H., 1 Jan 2001, Journey from cognition to brain to gene: Perspectives from Williams syndrome. 2001 ed. MIT Press, p. 73-104
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2000

• PublishedERPs during auditory language comprehension in Williams Syndrome: The effects of Word frequency, imageability and length on word class.
  St. George, M., Mills, D. L. & Bellugi, U., 1 Jan 2000, In: Neuroimage. 11, 5, p. 357
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedElectrophysiological studies of face recognition in Williams syndrome.
  Mills, D. L., Alvarez, T. D., St. George, M., Appelbaum, L. G., Neville, H. & Bellugi, U., 1 Mar 2000, In: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 12, Supplement 1, p. 47-64
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedICA provides new insight into ERP data: face processing in Williams Syndrome
  Marks, T. K., Mills, D. L., Makeig, S., Westerfield, M., Jung, T. P., Bellugi, U. & Sejnowski, T. J., 1 Jan 2000, p. 56-63.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

• Does learning a second language as an adult keep your brain young?

  01/10/2019 – 19/01/2022 (Finished)

• Linking gene expression with social brain activity

  01/06/2018 – 01/08/2019 (Finished)

• Lexicon development in bilingual toddlers

  01/08/2013 – 16/03/2018 (Finished)

• Brain activity and speech perception in Welsh/English bilingual infants

  01/06/2010 – 01/08/2012 (Finished)