Developmental neurocognition : speech and face processing in the first year of life : [proceedings of the NATO advanced research workshop on changes in speech and face processing in infancy : a glimpse at developmental mechanisms of cognition, Carry-le-Ro

"This volume contains the proceedings of a NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) on the topic of "Changes in Speech and Face Processing in Infancy: A glimpse at Developmental Mechanisms of Cognition", which was held in Carry-Ie-Rouet (France) at the Vacanciel "La Calanque", from June 29 to July 3, 1992. For many years, developmental researchers have been systematically exploring what is concealed by the blooming and buzzing confusion (as William James described the infant's world). Much research has been carried out on the mechanisms by which organisms recognize and relate to their conspecifics, in particular with respect to language acquisition and face recognition. Given this background, it seems worthwhile to compare not only the conceptual advances made in these two domains, but also the methodological difficulties faced in each of them. In both domains, there is evidence of sophisticated abilities right from birth. Similarly, researchers in these domains have focused on whether the mechanisms underlying these early competences are modality-specific, objectƯ specific or otherwise"--Font no determinada Front Matter....Pages i-1 The Roles of Experience in Different Developmental Information Stage Processes....Pages 3-16 The Relevance of Primate Corticogenesis for Understanding the Emergence of Cognitive Abilities in Man....Pages 17-30 Synaptogenesis in the Prefrontal Cortex of the Macaque....Pages 31-39 Maturation of Synapses and Gaba-Immunoreactive Neurons in the Perinatal Human Visual Cortex....Pages 41-49 Dendritic Structure and Language Development....Pages 51-62 Development of Brain Substrates for Pattern Recognition in Primates: Physiological and Connectional Studies of Inferior Temporal Cortex in Infant Monkeys....Pages 63-75 Functional Mapping of the Human Brain....Pages 77-91 Mechanisms in Infant Face Processing....Pages 93-102 Specific VS. Non-Specific Face Recognition Device....Pages 103-108 Neonatal Synesthesia: Implications for the Processing of Speech And Faces....Pages 109-124 Visual Perceptual Abilities at Birth: Implications for Face Perception....Pages 125-134 Cortical Parcellation and the Development of Face Processing....Pages 135-148 Hemispheric Differences in Face Processing and Brain Maturation....Pages 149-163 The Origins of Differential Hemispheric Strategies for Information Processing in the Relationships Between Voice and Face Perception....Pages 165-170 Infant Sensitivity to Perturbations in Adult Facial, Vocal, Tactile, and Contingent Stimulation During Face-to-Face Interactions....Pages 171-185 The Recognition of Facial Expressions in Infancy: Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence....Pages 187-198 Frontal Function in Cognitive and Emotional Behaviors During Infancy: Effects of Maturation and Experience....Pages 199-210 Why Faces are Special to Infants — on Connecting the Attraction of Faces and Infants’ Ability for Imitation and Cross-Modal Processing....Pages 211-225 Sometimes it Pays to Look Back Before You Leap Ahead....Pages 227-236 Speech Stimuli in the Fetal Environment....Pages 237-248 Infants’ Perception of Speech Units: Primary Representation Capacities....Pages 249-257 Innate Predispositions and the Effects of Experience in Speech Perception: The Native Language Magnet Theory....Pages 259-274 The Ontogeny and Developmental Significance of Language-Specific Phonetic Perception....Pages 275-288 Emergence of Language-Specific Constraints in Perception of Non-Native Speech: A Window on Early Phonological Development....Pages 289-304 Segmentation of Fluent Speech into Words: Learning Models and the Role of Maternal Input....Pages 305-315 The Role of the Face in Vocal Learning and the Development of Spoken Language....Pages 317-328 Sonority Theory and Syllable Pattern as Keys to Sensory-Motor-Cognitive Interactions in Infant Vocal Development....Pages 329-339 Motor Explanations of Babbling and Early Speech Patterns....Pages 341-352 Ontogeny of Language-Specific Syllabic Productions....Pages 353-363 On the Ontogenetic Requirements for Early Language Acquisition....Pages 365-383 The Acquisition of Prosody: Evidence from French- and English-Learning Infants....Pages 385-398 Phonetic Systems and Phonological Development....Pages 399-409 The Construction of a Phonological System....Pages 411-419 Connectionist Modeling and the Microstructure of Phonological Development: A Progress Report....Pages 421-433 Developmental Changes in the Acquisition of Phonology....Pages 435-449 Development of Language Relevant Processing Systems: The Emergence of a Cognitive Module....Pages 451-459 Some Theoretical Implications of Cross-Modal Research in Speech Perception....Pages 461-466 Back Matter....Pages 467-498

This volume is based on one of the first interdisciplinary meetings to focus on early developmental neurocognition. It has now been clearly established that human infants process complex events such as faces and speech sounds quite early in their life. The crucial problem nowadays is to elucidate how these competences emerge and develop: what kinds of mechanisms are involved that make information processing systems both so specific and so adaptive to the relevant biological signals, how the interactions with the environmental inputs contribute to the neuronal functional organization, to the onset and changes in competences, and how the various successive changes in infants' abilities and competences relate to each other. These are some of the questions addressed in the present volume: they constitute major challenges to neurobiologists, neuropsychologists, psychologists and linguists. Not only is human cognitive development a fascinating and important issue per se, it is also crucial to understanding the neurobiological mechanisms involved in adult competences. The meeting on which this volume was based was held in July 1992. It brought together some outstanding international specialists in the relevant scientific fields in a spirit of interdisciplinary exchange. Their contributions cover the latest research on these topics and include some exciting new conceptual advances.

Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Changes in Speech Processing in Infancy: A Glimpse at Developmental Mechanisms of Cognition, Carry-le-Rouet, France, June 29-July 3, 1992