Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

Aims:

The course provides advance knowledge on the functional maturation of the nervous system, on the development of the neural bases of several fundamental cognitive functions and on the role of the environment and the experience through the lens of cognitive neuroscience.

Program:

The course starts with an overview on the maturation of the nervous system. The development of basic sensory functions will be described stressing the role of experience and critical periods. The course will then focus on the development of several cognitive functions (e.g. perception, attention, memory, language, social decision-making) from the perspective of cognitive neuroscience.

Exam:

Oral examination

Books:

1. Kandel E.R., Schwartz JH, Jessel TM et al. Principles of Neuroscience, Chapter 52-56

1. Berardi N, Pizzorusso T (2007). Psicobiologia dello sviluppo. Laterza, (E-book). Chapter 2-17

2. Johnson MH, De Haan M. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, An Introduction, 4th Edition Wiley. Chapter 1, 4-10