Developmental Neuropsychology

Recommended Prerequisites

1. Knowledge of biological and cognitive psychology
2. Knowledge of English language.

Teaching Methods

1.    Theoretical classes.
2.    In order to improve research skills, such as critical thinking, scientific writing, and giving oral presentations, the following assignments will be given:
a.    Scientific writing: Each student reads two scientific articles every week on the topic that was discussed in the theoretical classes. Of these two articles a critical summary is written that will be evaluated each week.
b.    Scientific presentation: each week two students will give an oral presentation on the two scientific papers that are being read by the other students. These presentations will be evaluated
c.    Discussion: Students are motivated to actively participate in discussing the proposed literature on a specific topic.
3.    Critical review of a paper of choice, which will be evaluated.

Learning Outcomes

1. Gain insight into the normal development of several cognitive functions, such as memory, language, perception and attention.
2. Explore the neural developmental of the brain.
3. Gain knowledge about several developmental disorders, such as Traumatic brain injury, Epilepsy and autism.
4. Improve research skills, such as critical thinking, scientific writing, and giving oral presentations.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

I. Neural and cognitive development: 1. Cerebral development; 2. Learning and memory; 3. Language; 4. Vision; 5. Attention.

II. Specific developmental disorders: 1. Dyslexia; 2. Williams syndrome; 3. Autism; 4. Traumatic Brain Injury; 5. Epilepsy; 6. Neurofibromatose; 7. Amblyopia.

Assessment Methods

Avaliação
Discussão crítica sobre as presentações e os artigos científicos: 20.0%
Análise crítica dum artigo à escolha: 80.0%

Bibliography

Johnson,M. H. (2010). Develop. Cog. neuroscience (3rd ed.). Ox.: Blackwell.

Baron-Cohen, S., et al. (2006). fMRI of parents of children with Asperger Syndrome: A pilot study. Brain and Cog., 61, 1, 122-30.

Caeyenberghs, K. et al.. (2009). Neural correl. of motor dysf. in children with traum. brain injury: Explor. of compensatory recruitment patterns. Brain, 132, 684-694.

Cleary, M. et al.(2009). Assess. of a computer-based treat. for older amblyopes:The Glasgow pilot study. Eye, 23, 124-131.

Gervain, J. et al. (2008).The neonate brain detects speech struct.. PNAS, 105 (37), 14222-14227.

Herbert, J. et al. (2007). Crawling is assoc. with more flex. memory retrieval by 9-month-old inf. Develop. Science, 10, 2, 183-189.

Jacobs, R et al.. (2007).Exec. function following focal frontal lobe lesions: Impact of timing of lesion on outcome. Cortex, 43, 792-805.

Rondan, C. et al (2008).Global and local proces. in Williams syndrome: Drawing versus perceiving. Child Neuropsychology, 14, 237-248.