Fundamentals of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

Traditionally, brain development was assumed to begin post-birth, detached from sensory experiences. However, recent revelations challenge this notion, demonstrating that infants respond to sensory stimuli before birth. This chapter explores early sensory development in infants, starting in the womb. We investigate the evolution of attention in infants, encompassing its various forms and developmental trajectories. Attention plays a pivotal role in their engagement with the environment. Subsequently, we delve into perceptual learning, highlighting infants innate ability to discern patterns and create expectations. Our focus turns to auditory and visual processing, elucidating how infants perceive and interpret their surroundings. We dissect the neural mechanisms underpinning visual processing, with a special emphasis on face recognition as a model for perceptual learning and adaptability. Finally, we explore multisensory integration in infants, revealing how diverse sensory modalities develop in harmony, shaping their perception of the worlds patterns. This chapter unravels the intricate journey of sensory development in infants, illuminating the bedrock of their perceptual world.