Child abuse takes many forms and child neglect is the most common. Studies have shown that child neglect can be more detrimental 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 because it does not leave bruises or marks like physical abuse (DiPanfilis, D., 2006). Neglect in early childhood has been shown to affect all aspects of development: physical, cognitive and psychosocial (Hawley, T., Gunner, M., 2000). This article will examine the effects of neglect 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 early childhood, we are in Piaget's sensorimotor stage where we begin our world-building by coordinating what we think, touch, smell, and taste with how we move (Santrock, J., 2011). When an infant does not have the opportunity to explore their world, they cannot progress effectively through the sensorimotor phase. 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 synonymous with neglect, because what is considered neglect varies with age and development. child's level. For the purposes of this article, neglect will be defined as the denial of appropriate physical, educational, emotional, and moral attention and care (DiPanfilis, D., 2006). In 2008, child protective services received 3.3 million reports of child abuse and seventy-one percent of them were received by the Council on Child Development and Forum National Committee on Early Childhood Policies and 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. and Cicchetti, D. (2004). The impact of child maltreatment on expressive syntax at 60 months. Developmental Science, 7(1), 88-102. doi:10.1111/j.1467-7687.2004.00325.x9. Majer, M., Nater, UM, Lin, J.-MS, Capuron, L. and Reeves, WC (2010). Association of childhood trauma with 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