The CORE Academy is pleased to share the recent scholarly contributions of Prof. Nadica Pop-Jordanova, Fellow of the Academy, whose research spans child health, psychology, emotional regulation, gender studies, and the application of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in medicine.
Her latest publications reflect an interdisciplinary engagement with some of today’s most pressing questions in health sciences and social psychology, ranging from childhood development and parenting challenges to global studies on gender equality and care economies.
Selected Publications (2023–2025)
Child Health, Psychology, and Parenting
Chronic Diseases in Children as a Challenge for Parenting (2023) Full text
Perceived Birth Trauma in Macedonian Women (2023) Full text
Emotional Dysregulation is the Core Problem in Psychopathological Manifestations (2023) Full text
Children also Suffer and Feel Pain as Adults (2025)
Digital Health, Neuropsychology, and AI in Medicine
Web Platform for Gathering and Analyzing Data from the Neurogame Mobile Application (2023) Full text
Internet/Video Gaming: The Relevance of a New Phenomenon in Youth (2024) Full text
Opportunity to Use Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (2024) Full text
Is it Possible to Recognize Emotions/Feelings? (2025)
Gender, Social Psychology, and Global Policy Studies
Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 Countries (Political Psychology, 2023) DOI
Policy as Normative Influence? On the Relationship Between Parental Leave Policy and Social Norms (British Journal of Social Psychology, 2024) DOI
The Gender Gap in the Care Economy is Larger in Highly Developed Countries (American Psychologist / PsyArXiv, 2024) Preprint
Other Notable Works
Traumatic Childbearing Experiences in Macedonian Women (JOJ Public Health, 2023) DOI
Attachment – Emotions which Shape Development and Well-Functioning in Humans (2024)
Is Aggression Normal in Humans? (2025)
The Power of Music (International Journal of Multidisciplinary and Current Educational Research, 2025)
Below are selected publications that may be especially interesting to a wider audience, with PDF download options
1. Attachment – Emotions Which Shape Development and Well-Functioning in Humans 
Attachment Emotions Which Shape Development and Well-Functioning in Humans.pdf
This article reviews attachment theory as a fundamental emotional bond essential for human development and functioning. Drawing on neuroscience, developmental psychology, and clinical evidence, it emphasizes that attachment is not limited to infancy but influences relationships and emotional regulation across the lifespan. Secure versus insecure attachments are shown to shape mental health outcomes, while cultural attachment provides psychological safety in times of threat. This work is particularly valuable for educators, psychologists, and policymakers interested in early childhood care and cross-cultural approaches to emotional health.
In this interdisciplinary study, Prof. Pop-Jordanova explores how music influences the human brain, emotions, and social interactions. Neuroscientific findings show that musical rhythms synchronize with brain oscillations (neural resonance theory), shaping cognition, mood, and behavior. Music is shown to relieve anxiety, enhance social bonding, stimulate movement, and support neurological rehabilitation. The study demonstrates how music can improve brain development, optimize quality of life, and help manage disorders such as depression or dementia—insights relevant to healthcare professionals, educators, therapists, and anyone intrigued by the link between art and neuroscience.
This review traces the history and rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. It outlines applications in diagnostics, surgery, cardiology, ophthalmology, oncology, and mental health, emphasizing AI’s potential to improve accuracy, efficiency, and patient outcomes. Limitations and ethical challenges—such as data privacy, transparency, and accountability—are also discussed. This article is particularly useful to clinicians, researchers, and policymakers seeking to integrate AI responsibly and effectively in medical systems worldwide.
Drawing on data from nearly 14,000 young adults across 37 countries, this large-scale study investigates cross-national variations in intentions to take parental leave. Findings show that women consistently intend to take longer leave than men, and paradoxically, the gender gap is larger in more gender-equal countries with generous leave policies. Men’s leave intentions are shaped more by individual gender attitudes than by policy, while women’s intentions reflect broader cultural and political contexts. The study raises important questions for policymakers, gender equality advocates, and social scientists studying labor markets and family policy.
5. Web Platform for Gathering and Analyzing Data from the Neurogame Mobile Application Web Platform.pdf
This article presents the development and validation of a mobile application (“Neurogame”) and a connected web platform designed to assess cognitive functions in children with ADHD and dyslexia. In a study involving 100 children, the tool successfully measured reaction time, attention, and concentration, distinguishing between children with developmental disorders and healthy controls. The platform enables teachers, therapists, and parents to track children’s progress and provide tailored interventions. This innovative digital health approach is valuable for clinicians, educators, and developers working on accessible, tech-based support for learning and behavioral challenges.
This article investigates scientific and technological methods for identifying and measuring emotions, from facial micro-expressions and bodily maps to physiological measures (EEG, ECG, galvanic skin response) and advanced neuroimaging (fMRI, PET). It emphasizes the central role of emotions in human decision-making, perception, and memory, while also considering their link to mental disorders. The key finding is that while emotions can be tracked through multiple biological and neural indicators, no single method captures them fully, underscoring both the complexity of human affect and the potential of AI-assisted recognition tools. This work is relevant to neuroscientists, psychologists, AI researchers, and professionals in mental health and human-computer interaction.
Advancing Knowledge for Humanity
Prof. Pop-Jordanova’s work exemplifies the Academy’s mission of “Advancing Knowledge for Humanity” by bridging medicine, psychology, technology, and global social challenges. Through her research, she provides critical insights into how human development, emotional well-being, and social policies intersect with emerging technologies and medical practice.
We warmly congratulate Prof. Pop-Jordanova on her contributions and look forward to continuing to share the impactful work of our Fellows with the global scholarly community.