Our research group investigates the cognitive and neural developments that drive the achievement of these milestones of human cognition in early childhood. When and how do children start understanding the social and physical world in terms of abstract concepts, complex rules and structures? What is the role of brain maturation for the emergence of these concepts? A central focus of our group lies on the development of Theory of Mind and a mature concept of the self. Do these concepts rely on language or are they already present in preverbal infants? And is their emergence domain-specific or is it supported by developments in other cognitive domains (such as, Language, working memory, or executive function)?
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