Développement cognitif dans une perspective lifespan

CR 751338

SCHEDULE

Spring semester 2023

Cours en bloc: Saturday March 4 and Saturday April 1st, 2023 (9.15am -5.00pm, rooms according to course program)

An information session will be held on February 22, 2023, at 6:30pm (zoom).

Goal

Advanced introduction to the lifespan trajectories of central cognitive functions from childhood into old age and to the main developmental mechanisms driving those age-related changes.

Description

The traditional concept of developmental psychology used to be a ‘developmental growth concept’. Here, research mainly focused on child development and regarded age-related changes in old age as decline in the capacities acquired during childhood and adolescence. The concept of a lifespan developmental psychology has introduced a novel perspective to developmental psychology arguing that development occurs across the entire lifespan and that gains and losses are possible at every age. The course first introduces models of lifespan psychology. In the main part, lifespan changes in major domains such as episodic memory, executive functions (including working memory) and prospective memory will be discussed. Specifically, each domain will be studied in four phases (1. brief review of the concept and practically exploring key paradigms that are suitable for different age groups, 2. research focusing on childhood, 3. research focusing on aging, 4. research with lifespan samples and integration). Besides discussing the relevant original literature, students will have the possibility to develop and practically explore a concept for a lifespan study in one of the domains discussed.

Bibliography

Craik, F.I.M., & Bialystok, E. (2006). Cognition through the lifespan cognition: Mechanisms of change. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 10, 131-138.

Exam