Developmental cognitive neuroscience

Infants, children and adolescents think, feel and behave differently than adults. It is the aim of developmental cognitive neuroscience to characterize the psychology of these processes and understand their underlying neurobiology. The review of 3 studies from 3 phases of development - i.e., regarding infants, children, and adolescents - demonstrates the variety and complexity of the intricate interplay of mind and brain in cognitive and emotional development. Upon hearing their mother tongue, 2 to 3 months old infants activate the same cortical areas that are active during language comprehension in adults. Children inhibit interference by means of other cortical circuits than adults, and cognitive efficiency in a task involving emotional Gestalt perception is decreased at the onset of puberty.