Fundamentals of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience: (Cambridge Fundamentals of Neuroscience in Psychology)

An exciting introduction to the scientific interface between biological studies of the brain and behavioural studies of human development. The authors trace the field from its roots in developmental psychology and neuroscience, and highlight some of the most persuasive research findings before anticipating future directions the field may take. They begin with a brief orientation of the brain, along with genetics and epigenetics, and then summarise brain development and plasticity. Later chapters detail the neurodevelopmental basis of a wide variety of human competencies, including perception, language comprehension, socioemotional development, memory systems, literacy and numeracy, and self-regulation. Suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in developmental cognition or neuroscience, this textbook covers the prenatal period through to infancy, childhood, and adolescence. It is pedagogically rich, featuring interviews with leading researchers, learning objectives, review questions, further-reading recommendations, and numerous colour figures. Instructor teaching is supported by lecture slides and a test bank.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction to Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience; 2. Methods and Populations; 3. Genes and Epigenetics; 4. Brain Development; 5. Brain Plasticity; 6. Attention and Perception; 7. Social Cognition; 8. Language Learning and Social Interaction; 9. Memory Systems; 10. Working Memory and Executive Functions; 11. Language and Literacy; 12. Numeracy; 13. Motivated Behavior and Self-Control; 14. Key Themes and Future Directions.

About the Author :
Heather Bortfeld is Professor of Psychological Sciences and Cognitive and Information Sciences at the University of California, Merced. She has been a pioneer in the development of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as a tool for measuring changes in brain activity in infants and toddlers as they engage with the world around them. She is currently the Emmett, Bernice, and Carlston Cunningham Endowed Chair in Cognitive Development at UC Merced, and an elected Fellow of the Association for Psychological Sciences. Silvia A. Bunge is a Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and directs the Building Blocks of Cognition Laboratory, which draws from the fields of cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, and education research. She studies the development of higher-level cognitive abilities, how they are shaped by experience, and how they support academic success. She is an elected Fellow of the Association for Psychological Sciences and the recipient of a Jacobs Foundation Advanced Career Research Fellowship and an Alexander von Humboldt Research Award.

Review :
'I've already used this book in pre-publication format to teach a graduate seminar. It worked wonderfully well! I look forward to designing an undergraduate course around it. It's just what the field needed to coalesce around core discoveries and insights, and to teach the basics of techniques.' Nora S. Newcombe, Temple University 'Heather Bortfeld and Silvia Bunge have done a great service to the field by providing this timely and comprehensive survey of the growing field of developmental cognitive neuroscience. Through their careful and clear explanations of research methods, empirical findings, and practical and policy implications, they have provided a very useful guide for the next generation of developmental scientists.' Peter Marshall, President-Elect of the Society for the Study of Human Development 'Fundamentals of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience is an authoritative introductory textbook for undergraduate and graduate students alike. The book covers a full range of fundamental topics including infant and child psychology, brain development, imaging methods, and applied issues, and does so in clear accessible language. Color images and diagrams bring the topic to life. A go-to textbook for instructors.' J. Bruce Morton, Western University 'In Fundamentals of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Bortfeld and Bunge provide the first comprehensive textbook covering this important topic, with a highly engaging but deeply referenced text addressing essential foundations, central concepts, and key research findings across the field. A must-adopt!' Janet F. Werker, University of British Columbia