512-370 Cognitive and Neuropsych. Development 3

512-224 or 512-221 (or equivalent)

512-220 (or equivalent)

The subject examines the relationship between cognitive and neurological accounts of developmental functioning in the preadolescent period. Issues to be covered include domain specific versus domain general accounts of cognitive development; the nature of developmental plasticity and constraints; and sensitive periods in developmental functioning. Other topics to be reviewed include the nature of children's reasoning and problem-solving competencies; the development of children's theory of mind; and the development of memory, attention, planning and categorisation skills. Special attention will be paid to the meaning and significance of individual differences in the development of language, reading and number abilities, focusing specifically on the nature of dyscalculia and dyslexia. Current research on prenatal and postnatal development of the central nervous system, as well as the impact of neurological insult on children's reasoning will be reviewed, with a special emphasis on the relationship between neurological and cognitive functioning. The unifying theme is characterising the factors that affect the nature of stability, change and variability in cognitive and neurological developmental processes.

On completion of this subject, student should be better able to: critically read and evaluate psychological research in the areas of cognitive and neurological development; comprehend some of the issues and difficulties associated with assessing children's cognitive competencies; understand the processes involved in writing empirical research reports; begin to design a research project in the area of cognitive and neurological development.

Three 1000-2000-word laboratory reports, each of which is worth 33.3% of the overall assessment for the subject. There is no final examination in the subject.

Each piece of assessment must be completed (hurdle requirement).

Attendance at 80% or more of the laboratory classes is a hurdle requirement. In case of failure to meet the hurdle requirement, additional work will be required before a passing grade can be awarded.