Neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan: a neuroconstructivist approach

This book is unique in presenting evidence on development across the lifespan across multiple levels of description (genetic, brain, cognitive, environmental). The authors use a well-defined disorder - Williams syndrome, to explore the impact of genes, brain development, behaviour, as well as the individual'senvironment on development. Nowadays, it is widely accepted that there is no single influence (be it nature or nurture) on cognitive development. Cognitiveabilities emerge as a result of interactions between gene expression, cortical and subcortical brain networks, and environmental influences. In recent years, our study of neurodevelopmental disorders has provided much valuable information on how genes, brain development, behaviour, and environment interact to influence development from infancy to adulthood.This is the first book to present evidence on development across the lifespanacross these multiple levels of description (genetic, brain, cognitive, environmental). In the book, the authors have chosen a well-defined disorder, Williams syndrome (WS), to explore the impact of genes, brain development, behaviour, as well as the individual's environment on development. WS is used as a model disorder to demonstrate the authors approach to understanding development, whilst being presented incomparison to other neurodevelopmental disorders - Autism, Developmental Dyscalculia, Down syndrome, Dyslexia, Fragile X syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Specific Language Impairment, Turner syndrome - to illustrate differences in development across neurodevelopmental disorders.Williams syndrome is particularly informative for exploring development: Firstly, it has been extensively researched at multiple levels: genes, brain, cognition and behaviour, as well as in terms of the difficulties of daily living and social interaction. Secondly, it has been studied across the lifespan, withmany studies on infants and toddlers with WS as well as a large number on children, adolescents and adults. The authors also explore a number of domain-general and domain-specificprocesses in the verbal, non-verbal and social domains, across numerous neurodevelopmental disorders. This illustrates, among other factors, the importanceof developmental timing, i.e. that the development of a cognitive skill at a specific timepoint can impact on subsequent development within that domain,but also across domains. In addition, the authors discuss the value of investigating basic-level abilities from as close to the infant start-state as possible, presenting evidence of where cross-syndrome comparisons have shed light on the cascading impacts of subtle similarities and discrepancies in early delay or deviance, on subsequent development.Designed such that readers with an interest in any neurodevelopmental disorder can gain insight into the intricate dynamics of cognitive development, the book covers both theoretical issues and those of clinical relevance. It will bean invaluable reference for any researcher, clinician, student as well as interested parents or teachers wishing to learn about neurodevelopmental disorders from a developmental framework. INDICE: Introduction - Williams syndrome: a Model for the Neuroconstructivist Approach Section 1: Cognition, Brain, Genes Cognition: The DevelopmentalTrajectories Approach Brain: The Neuroconstructivist Approach Genes: The Gene Expression Approach Section 2: Clinical and Practical Outcomes Clinical Profile: Diagnosis and Prognosis Adult Outcomes and Integration into Society Section 3: Domain-General Processes Attention Sleep-Related Learning Memory Executive Function and Motor Planning Section 4: Domain-Specific Processes Language Precursors and Early Language Later Language Visual Perception and Visuo-Spatial Cognition Spatial Cognition, Visuo-Motor Action and Attention Face Processing and Social Interaction Mental State Understanding and Social Interaction Numeracy Literacy Section 3: The Neuroconstructivist Approach to Domain-General and Domain-Specific Processes Integrating domain-general and domain-specificdevelopmental processes: cross-syndrome, cross-domain dynamics Future Theoretical and Empirical Directions within a Neuroconstructivist Framework

• ISBN: 978-0-19-959481-8
• Editorial: Oxford University
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 416
• Fecha Publicación: 15/12/2011
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés