Full Description
This is one of a two-volume work on neurocognitive development, focusing separately on normative and non-normative development. The normative volume focuses on neurology, biology, genetics, and psychology of normative cognitive development. It covers the development of intellectual abilities, visual perception, motor function, language, memory, attention, executive function, social cognition, learning abilities, and affect and behavior. The book identifies when and how these functions develop, the genetics and neurophysiology of their operation, and their evaluation and assessment in clinical practice.
This book will serve as a comprehensive reference to researchers in cognitive development in neuroscience, psychology, and medicine, as well as to clinicians and allied health professionals focused on developmental disabilities (child neurologists, pediatric neuropsychologists, child psychiatrists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists.)
Contents
Section I. Introduction to Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
1. Description and classification of neurodevelopmental disabilities
2. Neurodevelopmental and cognitive disabilities: Historical overview
3. Ethical views and considerations
Section II. Biological Basis of Typical Neurodevelopment
4. Neurogenesis, neuronal migration and axon guidance
5. Development of neuronal circuits: From synaptogenesis to synapse plasticity
6. Myelination
Section III. Plasticity, Vulnerability and Evolutionary Constraints of the Developing Brain
7. Early brain plasticity: Definitions and theoretical concepts
8. Resilience
9. Critical periods of brain development
10. Vulnerability of immature brain
11. Hemispheric specialization
Section IV. Neuroscientific Basis of Typical Functional Neurodevelopment
12. Intellectual abilities
13. Visual development
14. The development of auditory functions
15. Motor functions
16. Typical language development
17. Literacy acquisition: Reading development
18. Memory: normative development of memory systems
19. Developing attention in typical children related to disabilities
20. Executive functions
21. Learning abilities
22. Social cognition
23. The role of cerebellum in the child neuropsychological functioning
Section V. Etiologies of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
24. Genetic mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disorders
25. The effects of sex on prevalence and mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders
26. Impact of prematurity on neurodevelopment
27. Pregnant women, prescription and fetal risk
28. Effects of prenatal alcohol and cannabis exposure on neurodevelopmental and cognitive disabilities
29. Maternal infections
30. Environmental toxic agents: The impact of heavy metals and organochlorides on brain development
31. The effects of socio-affective environment
32. Traumatic brain injury and baby shaken syndrome
33. Ischemic sequalae and other vascular diseases
