From Cradle to Cortex: How Experiences in Infancy Shape the Brain
Netherlands, Maastricht
| Study location | Netherlands, Maastricht |
|---|---|
| Type | Summer Courses, Full-time |
| Nominal duration | 1 week (2 ECTS) |
| Study language | English |
| Course code | MSS2033 |
| Tuition fee | €599 one-time Early Bird Discount: €549,00. |
|---|
| Entry qualification | Enrolled as an Undergraduate student or Undergraduate diploma Basic psychology knowledge The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original. |
|---|
| Language requirements | English The language of the course is English, so we expect a fluent level and the ability to follow and participate in class. |
|---|
| More information |
|---|
Overview
Course Description
This course will address two major questions. The first question: How do early experiences during infancy affect a developing brain? The second question: How, in turn, do the structures of the brain influence child behaviour? Throughout this class students will compare how childrearing practices have changed from hunter-gatherer societies to modern day. Are parenting practices better in this century? Lectures and coursework will focus on sensitive periods, neural plasticity, and adverse childhood experiences among other topics. Students will discuss how knowledge of child development influences how societies make decisions about children. Content: Lecture, open discussion, review research, and news articles each day.
Goals
By the end of the course:
• Students will compare and contrast major theories of child development, including those proposed by Piaget, Vygotsky, Erikson, and Bowlby;
• Students will evaluate various research methodologies used in the study of infant and child development, including observational studies, longitudinal research, and experimental designs;
• Students will analyse the impact of family, culture, and socioeconomic factors on child development, understanding the role of nature and nurture;
• Students will explore the development of attachment relationships and their influence on later social and emotional development;
• Students will appreciate the diversity of developmental pathways and understand how individual differences, including those related to culture, gender, and ability, influence development.
Recommend Literature
• Evolution, Early Experience and Human Development: From Research to Practice and Policy by Darcia Narvaez Ph.D., Jaak Panksepp Ph.D., AllanN. Schore Ph.D., Tracy Gleason (any edition is good)
Teaching Methods
Interactive Class, Lectures, PBL Tutorials
Assessment Methods
Assignment, Attendance, Presentation
Course Coordinators
Mia Noelle Koch
Central European Time
Central European Time