Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

Rating:
Summary: Confusing
Review: I can see that the author knows his stuff but he really has little idea how to write or to communicate information in such a way that the reader can follow it. He is addicted to saying 'First', 'Second' and 'Finally', without appearing to have any appreciation of the fact that readers will then expect to see information appearing in that order. Two examples:

In Chapter one, under the heading An Outline of this book, he talks about the 'next chapter'. One might reasonably assume a brief overview of each chapter, but this is not forthcoming. From 'the next chapter', he skips to Chapter 9 and leaves it at that.

In Chapter 6, he details three approaches, the final one of which is 'a number of neural correlates'. Turn the page and what do we see? Not a detailed examination of these approaches in the right order, but another set of approaches apparently specific to neural correlates, the last approach of the previous page. At no point does he continue with the stages detailed in his overview.

I'm afraid the whole thing is just too muddled, and I'm surprised the editor did not point this out to him.

Rating:
Summary: Introducing a new field in style
Review: This is the first introductory textbook on the emerging field of developmental cognitive neuroscience, and one that sets high standards. Professor Johnson provides a clear and comprehensive overview of the essential mechanisms of the development of brain, behavior and cognition. Developmental cognitive neuroscience is a relatively new field of research, and Johnson has been one of its pioneers. The book deals not only with research on human infant development, but also deals with early learning and development in animals. This book is required reading for advanced undergraduates and postgraduates, and it is an excellent guide for researchers and teachers in this field. I will certainly want to use it for courses in developmental cognitive neuroscience.