Childhood maltreatment takes many forms, with childhood neglect being the most common. Studies have found that child neglect may be more harmful to development than physical abuse (Colvert, E., Rutter, M., Kreppner, J., Beckett, C., Castle, J., Groothues, C. & Sonuga-Barke, 2008). Despite this, neglect is the least commonly reported form of abuse, as it does not leave bruises and marks like physical abuse (DiPanfilis, D., 2006). Neglect during childhood has been found to affect all aspects of development: physical, cognitive, and psychosocial (Hawley, T., Gunner, M., 2000). This article will examine the effects that neglect has on specific areas of cognitive functioning. According to Jean Piaget we all go through stages of cognitive development that help us build our knowledge of the world. During childhood we are in Piaget's sensorimotor stage where we begin to build the world by coordinating what we think, touch, smell and taste with how we move (Santrock, J., 2011). When a child is not given the opportunity to explore their world, they are unable to effectively progress through the sensorimotor stage. Various factors can lead to insufficient progression through the sensorimotor stage, but this article will focus specifically on neglect. Neglect is difficult to define in terms of a set of behaviors that are synonymous with neglect because what is considered neglect varies by age and development. child level. For the purposes of this article, neglect will be defined as the denial of adequate physical, educational, emotional, and moral attention and care (DiPanfilis, D., 2006). In 2008, Child Protective Services received 3.3 million reports of child maltreatment, and 71% of these we… half of the document… Council on Children in Developing States and National Policy Forum and early childhood programs. (2011). Building the brain's "air traffic control" system: How early experiences shape the development of executive function. Center on Child Development at Harvard University. Retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/8. Eigsti, I., & Cicchetti, D. (2004). The impact of child maltreatment on expressive syntax at 60 months. Developmental Sciences, 7(1), 88-102. doi:10.1111/j.1467-7687.2004.00325.x9. Majer, M., Nater, U. M., Lin, J.-MS, Capuron, L., & Reeves, W. C. (2010). Association between childhood trauma and cognitive function in healthy adults: a pilot study. BMC Neurology. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=95e34d47-cde9-4f93-b9ba-82931731842d%40sessionmgr14&vid=1&hid=25