This seminar will comprehensively explore how humans develop language, focusing on the biological, cognitive, and social foundations. We will investigate the neurological and genetic bases of language, compare human language to animal communication, and examine key theories from Piaget, Vygotsky, and Chomsky, including debates on innateness. Topics such as the role of social interaction and gestures, the Critical Period Hypothesis, and language development in special populations (deafness, blindness, autism, and specific language impairment) will offer an understanding of typical and atypical language development. We will engage with these themes through interactive discussions, applying theory to real-world language acquisition challenges.

This course provides an introduction to electroencephalography (EEG) and explores how the EEG method is used to investigate socio-emotional development during infancy. Students will learn how to apply EEG preliminarily to study emotional and social development by discussing current research in the field.