Lifespan Development and the Brain: The Perspective of Biocultural Co-Constructivism

This book focuses on the developmental analysis of brain-culture-environment dynamics and argues that this dynamic is interactive and reciprocal; brain and culture co-determine each other. As a whole, this book refutes any unidirectional conception of the brain-culture dynamic, as each is influenced by and modifies the other. To capture the ubiquitous reach and significance of the mutually dependent and co-productive brain-culture system, the metaphor of biocultural co-constructivism is invoked. Distinguished researchers from cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and developmental psychology review the evidence in their respective fields. A special focus of the book is its coverage of the entire human lifespan.

Paul B. Baltes is noted for his theoretical and empirical work in developmental psychology and the interdisciplinary study of human aging. Aside from multiple honorary doctorates and election to academies, he has received numerous awards, including the International Psychology Award of the American Psychological Association, the Lifetime Achievement Award of the German Psychological Society, and the Aristotle Prize of the European Federation of Psychological Associations.

Patricia A. Reuter-Lorenz is known for her research on the neuropsychological mechanisms of attention and working memory, in particular through her work with special patient populations, functional brain imaging and normal human aging. She is co-founder of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, has served on its governing board since its inception and serves on the editorial boards of leading journals in the field.

Frank Rösler is recognized for his research on biological correlates of cognitive processes, in particular memory, learning, imagery, language, and neural plasticity. He has received several awards, including the Max-Planck/Humboldt prize for international cooperation, and he has been elected as full member in two academies of sciences in Germany.