PRECURSORS AND DEVELOPMENT OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

PSISVI04

Academic Year of enrolment:

2020

Year of supply:

2020/2021

Type of Course:

Characterising

Degree:

Course of 2nd Cycle Degree in PSYCHOLOGY

Disciplinary Sector:

Psychology of Development and Psychology of Education

Language:

Italian

Location:

Credits:

Programme Year:

Cycle:

Second semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

136

Prerequisites:

Knowledge of fundamental concepts of developmental psychology (treated during first lessons). General theories about EF.

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PRECURSORS AND DEVELOPMENT OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS

PSYCHOLOGY

Objectives

Advanced knowledge of EF components, neural correlates, and developmental theories of EF. Typical and pathological developmental trajectories. At the end of lectures students have to demonstrate their theoretical knowledge about the topic, observe and assess infant behavior.

Contents

Definition of executive functions (EF) ad neural correlates. Theoretical approaches to the development of EF: unitary or componential construct. EF disorders: clinical signs and assessment.

Extended Syllabus

Development of EF: attention system, inhibition control, cognitive flexibility, working memory, planning and decision making. Developmental phases during infancy, early childhood and adolescence focusing particularly on preschool period. Relation of EF to fluid intelligence, learning abilities and to self-regulation. Neurodevelopment and EF disorders: ADHD, Learning disabilities. Instruments for infant observation and test evaluation, trough practical experience.

Recommended Bibliography

• Diamond, A., 2013. Executive Functions. Annual Review Psychology, Vol. 64, pp135–68
• Garon, N., Bryson, S., Smith, I., 2008. Executive function in preschoolers: a review using an Integrative framework. Psychological Bulletin, Vol 134, N1, pp 31-60.
• Posner, M., Rothbart, M., Sheese, B., Voelker, P., 2014. Developing Attention: Behavioral and Brain Mechanisms. Advance in Neuroscience
• Griffin, J. A., McCardle, P., Freund, L. S., (2016). Executive function in preschool-age children: Integrating measurement, neurodevelopment, and translational research. Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association. Capp 2, 4, 7.
• Handout provided by the teacher

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

Lectures includes 48 hours of frontal teaching plus 16 hours of practical exercises on neuropsychological test for EF assessment. Lectures provide guidelines for interpreting scientific articles and book. During lessons, students will be asked to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired, through individual or group work.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

Written and oral examination.

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

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