From Birth to Two: the Neuroscience of Infant Development

From birth to two years old is marked by great cognitive, emotional, social and physical development in children, and the brain is growing at a rapid pace. Research has enabled professionals and parents to identify developmental milestones for assessing a child’s progress across time. Although children develop according to a predictable sequence of steps, they do not necessarily proceed through them in the same way or at the same time. Every child’s development is unique, influenced by genetics, prenatal development, the care he/she receives after birth, and the experiences prompted by his or her environment. So there is a wide range of what may be considered ‘normal’ development. Leading scientists will review both basic and clinical research and discuss factors that influence child development from birth to two-years old, helping us understand what to look for, how to interpret what we observe, and what, if anything, can be done to intervene if something goes “wrong.” Please join us as we delve into the world of infant mental development, with Lisa Freund, Pat Levitt, Lisa Shulman, and Mark Frankel.

The Neuroscience & Society series is a partnership between The Dana Foundation and the American Association of the Advancement of Science (AAAS).