Cognitive neuroscience and human development

Abstract

The present article is a conceptual discussion about cognitive neuroscience and its interface with human development. For this purpose, we begin with a brief history of cognitive neuroscience, emphasizing its interdisciplinary nature. Afterwards we discuss some concepts of neuropsychology such as perceptual and cognitive development, general development of the nervous system, the formation of the brain, synaptic plasticity and cellular and molecular bases of cognition. Finally we emphasize that there is no way to separate the behavior from its biological basis, understanding that the nervous system is a necessary condition for the occurrence of behavior, thoughts and feelings, though it may not be a sufficient condition for the emergence of consciousness and behavioral phenomena.