UC San Diego

Abstract: This chapter presents a unified model of neurocognitive development beginning with the differentiation of the first neural cells and extending through the emergence of complex thought and behavior. It draws on the latest data from neurobiology, multimodal brain imaging, and cognitive neuroscience to construct a developmental model of the emergence of the human neurocognitive system from the dynamic interaction of diverse biological and experiential factors. The chapter begins with brief descriptions of the major methods for interrogating questions about brain‐behavior relations focusing primarily on neuroimaging technologies. The next section provides an overview of anatomical brain development beginning in the prenatal period and extending through adolescence. The third section represents the heart of this chapter using data from three major cognitive domains to explore principles that underlie the development of brain‐behavior relationships. The targeted domains are visuospatial processing, cognitive control, and language. The final sections present a synthesis of data from earlier sections offering a neurocognitive perspective on the nature of brain‐behavior relationships, and reflections on new trends and future directions for research in cognitive neuroscience.