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  Studiegidsen 2011-2012
Radboud UniversiteitStudiegidsenFaculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen > Research Master Cognitive Neuroscience

Developmental Cogitive Neuroscience 

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
(Vakcode)
Course ID
SOW-DGCN27
(Studiepunten)
Credits
6
(Periode)
Scheduled
2nd semester
Objectives (Doelstelling)

During the course, a number of general topics from the field of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience will be addressed. This sub-discipline at the interface between cognitive neuroscience and developmental psychology is a young and promising field within the area of neurosciences. After following the course, the student will have a broad overview over the field of study and its methods and an in-depth understanding of a number of key issues and up-to-date research topics.

Contents (Inhoud / Omschrijving)
After a general overview on the discipline, the different methods of studying neuro-cognitive development in young children will be addressed (such as measures of brain activity, looking measures, the use of marker tasks etc). The main focus of the course will be on the early development of perception and action. From these areas, a number of current research topics, such as the development of vision, orienting and attention, face perception, and the development of action perception and action production, will be chosen and discussed intensively.

Neurobiological aspects. The course will provide a detailed overview on the early development of the brain with several aspects of the pre- and postnatal brain development being treated in more detail. Special attention will be paid to the recent attempts to link changes in performance in cognitive tasks to brain development.

Functional aspects. Basic experimental paradigms that investigate the cognitive development of perception and action will be discussed. Research on deviant functioning and atypical development also plays an important role within the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience as it can shed light on the neural basis of normal cognition. In this course, attention will be paid especially to autism, dyslexia, and Williams syndrome.

Theoretical aspects. Different models of neurological and psychological development will be discussed. Furthermore, an important part of the course will be discussing contrasting theoretical explanations of findings on early neuropsychological and perceptual, social and cognitive development and their implications for the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience.

Additional aspects. The students will be given the opportunity to gain some hands-on experience with baby research. During the course, there will be a visit to the Baby Research Center and a


Literature (Literatuur)
Lecture notes, syllabus containing relevant chapters from books and recent papers in journals as Nature Neuroscience, Developmental Science, Science, Current Directions in Psychological Science, PNAS, Neuropsychologia etc.

Representative readings
Johnson, M.H. & de Haan, M.(2011). Developmental cognitive neuroscience: An introduction. 3rd edition. London: Wiley-Blackwell.

 


Teaching methods (Werkvormen)

Lectures, student assignments (reading, presenting, and discussing scientific articles), active participation in experiments with infants and children in the Baby Research Center.

Coördinerend docent
Coordinator: S. Hunnius, lectureres: S. Hunnius, H. Bekkering
Examination (Toetsingsvorm)
Written exam
Exam information (Toetsinformatie)

Written exam
Exam date: Thursday, July 12, 2012; 10.45-15.30

 

Enrollment ( Inschrijving college )

via STUDENT PORTAL untill 5 working days before the start of the course


Note this course is for CNS students only. Non-CNS students can contact Yvonne Schouten () or Arno Koning ().