Developmental Neuropsychobiology 1

Tutor:

Vladimír KOMÁREK

Synopsis:

The intention of the course is to introduce student to fundamental information about the brain and explain in what manner it takes part in all elements of human activity and what significance it has for the development of children.

Prerequisites:

Completion of Psychology and Drama Training courses, personal experience in working with children, active participation in the course.

Study Objectives:

The key topics are those which deal with the relationship between events occuring in the brain and the external behaviour of the child with an emphasis on critical periods in devleopment and dangers of inappropriate external intervention. Important as well are maleability, instruction potential, significance and need for communication with the surroundings, playfullness - creativity and their neurophysiological foundations. As set of topics will also cover development activity in the brain and its relationship to maturation and integrity of the child's personality. These will introduce the students to the main indicators of mental disability. The final instruction section is focused on illustrating the complex care for disabled children and potential for using various forms of therapy including applied drama training.

Outline and Syllabus:

Curriculum:

I. Introduction

- Classical neuranatomy (periferal nerves and the central nervous system),

- functional neuroanatomy: brain stem, cortex (basal ganglia, thalamus, limbic cortex - amygdala, hippocampus, cigulate), core front and rear halves of the brain,

- neurobiology

- neurophysiology

- neurochemistry.

II. Various neuphysic-biological concepts.

III. Phylogenetic and ontogenetic aspects.

IV. The brain and its functions: motoring; empathy, emotion, sexual behaviour; cognitive processes (memory, thought, creativity).

V. Drama and the brain: experience, rituals, resilience.

VI. Borderline diagnoses and dysfunctions.

VII. Abnormal and pathological conditions.

Study materials:

ČERNÁ, Marie a kol.

1994 Lehké mozkové dysfunkce (Praha: Karolinum)

DAMASIO, Antonio

1994 Descartes´Error. Emotion, Reason and Human Brain; přel. Lucie Motlová a Alžběta Hesová, Descartesův omyl. Emoce, rozum a lidský mozek (Praha: MF, 2000)

JENNINGS(OVÁ), Sue

1982 Remedial Drama. A Handbook for Teachers and Therapists (London: Adam & Charles Blash)

KOMÁREK, Vladimír

1996-2000 „Mozkové zákulisí“, Tvořivá dramatika VII, 1996, č. 1 - XI, 2000, č. 3

KOUKOLÍK, František

2000 Lidský mozek (Praha: Portál)

LESNÝ, Ivan-ŠPITZ, Jan

1989 Neurologie a psychiatrie pro speciální pedagogy (Praha: SPN)

PROVAZNÍK, Jaroslav (ed.)

2001 Dramatická výchova a dítě v bludišti dnešního světa (Praha: STD-KVD DAMU)

Note:

Schedule for winter semester 2009/2010:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

Schedule for summer semester 2009/2010:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

The subject is a part of the following study plans:

• Doporučený bakalářský dramatická výchova - komb. (compulsory subject)
• Doporučený magisterský dramatická výchova (compulsory subject)
• Doporučený magisterský dramatická výchova - tříleté komb. (compulsory subject)