Neuro-cognitive development in prematurely born infants: the perspective of the developmental cognitive neuroscience

The aim of the present review is to illustrate the recent contribution of the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (Johnson, 2005) on the gain of new knowledge on the relationship between neural mechanisms and cognitive processes underlying both typical and atypical cognitive development. Specifically, the review focuses on the preterm birth as a case that allows the study of the subtle interaction between genetically pre-programmed cortical development and early sensorial experience influence underpinning the cognitive impairment described in such a clinical population. Finally, the contribution of the Devlopmental Cognitive Neuroscience in recent clinical and rehabilitative practices through the investigation of the neural mechanisms triggered by the early extrauterine environmental interaction of the preterm newborn is breafly introduced.