Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience 2500-EN-CS-CN-02
The course provides an overview of the key concepts, theories, and empirical findings in developmental cognitive neuroscience. It focuses on the relationship between brain development and the emergence of cognitive, emotional, and social functions across infancy, childhood, and adolescence.
Throughout the course we will address central questions such as:
1. How does the developing brain support the acquisition of perception, language, memory, and executive functions?
2. How do biological and environmental factors interact to shape typical and atypical developmental pathways?
3. What mechanisms of plasticity allow the brain to adapt after injury or under adverse conditions?
We will approach these questions by reviewing the principles of neural development, methodologies used in the field, and current evidence from both human and animal research. Specific domains such as motor development, sensory processing, language, social cognition, and emotion regulation will be examined in detail. Finally, we will consider cases of neurodevelopmental disorders, early brain injury, and socio-cultural influences, highlighting their implications for education, clinical practice, and public policy.
Learning activities and teaching methods:
Lectures – introducing theoretical concepts, key findings, and current debates in developmental cognitive neuroscience.
Discussions – collective critical analysis of selected research articles.
Literature search workshops – during each class students will jointly explore and select relevant papers (e.g., via Google Scholar and other academic databases) to prepare for the following session.
Student presentations – short individual or group presentations on chosen topics.
Case studies – discussion of typical and atypical developmental trajectories.
Independent study – preparation of essays, review of core and supplementary literature.
Efekty uczenia się
After the course student will:
• know fundamental processes of structural and functional brain development
• know the complex relationships between biologically-driven mechanisms and experience-dependent processes
• know basic concepts related to neurocognitive development (experimental paradigms, research methods)
• be able to explain, using examples, the relationships between selected domains of cognitive development and changes in functional brain networks by using examples
• be able to explain atypical and abnormal development in terms of
developmental trajectories of neural systems
• be able to communicate acquired knowledge of functional brain development in English
• be able to independently collate and critically evaluate original research papers in English from the area of developmental cognitive neuroscience K_W01, K_W02, K_W05, K_U06
Kryteria oceniania
Assessment methods: Short presentation, Short essay, Final written exam
Components of the final grade and their weights: Presentation: 20%, Essay: 30%, Exam: 50%
Grading scale
over 50%: 3
over 60%: 3+
over 70%: 4,
over 80%: 4+
over 90%: 5
Requirements for retaking the assessment:
Essay: must be submitted on time; late submissions require approval from the instructor.
Possibility (and requirements) for retaking the exam in case of a positive grade - exam can be retaken in case of a positive grade if the tutorials/practical classes grade is over 80%)
Exams in the exam session: N/A
Attendance rules
Attendance: 2 unexcused absences are allowed. Students may submit short written work to make up for one additional missed classes.
Literatura
Topics:
1 Introduction to the Field
2 Brain Development
3 Current Methodology
4 Motor Development & Embodied Cognition
5 Low- & High-Level Sensory Perception
6 Language Development
7 Multisensory Integration
8 Development of Cognitive Processes
9 Social and Emotional Development
10 The Social Brain in Adolescence
11 Neurodevelopmental Disorders
12 Early Brain Injury & Plasticity
13 Environmental & Socio-Cultural Influences
14 Animal Models in Developmental Neuroscience
15 Future Directions
Obligatory textbook
Johnson, M. H. & de Haan, M. (2015). Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (4th Ed.). Oxford: Wiley.
Additional literature
Students will actively participate in literature search during classes (e.g., using Google Scholar), to identify relevant readings for upcoming sessions.
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W cyklu 2026Z:
opics: Obligatory textbook Additional literature |
Uwagi
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W cyklu 2026Z:
Prerequisites Academic honesty |