The developing brain: Neuroanatomy and cognition from birth to early adulthood
Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen
This is a specialised course. This means that 80% of the seats are reserved to PhD students enrolled at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at UCPH and 20% og the seats are reserved to PhD students from other Danish Universities/faculties (except CBS).
The course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except Copenhagen Business School), and for PhD Students from NorDoc member faculties. All other participants must pay the course fee.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. This also applies to PhD students from NorDoc member faculties. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
Learning objectives
1) Brain development – Students will be able to describe key aspects of brain anatomy, physiology, and development from childhood to adulthood.
2) Cognitive domains – Students will be able to explain central cognitive functions (e.g., attention, memory, executive functions) and their neural basis.
3) Developmental perspective – Students will be able to distinguish between normal cognitive development and development following early brain injury or disease.
Content
Day 1 – The Nervous System: Structure and Development
Aim and Content:
The course will focus on the structure and organization of the nervous system, supported by relevant examples. The aim is to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the nervous system from a developmental perspective. Topics include:
• Structures of the nervous system
• The nervous system in an embryological perspective
• The ventricular system
• Vascular supply
• Cells of the nervous system
• Neurochemistry and neurophysiology
• Plasticity
Day 2 – Nervous System Development After Birth and Functional Neuroanatomy of the Cerebellum
Aim and Content:
The aim is to provide participants with an in-depth understanding of the development of the nervous system’s different structures, as well as a fundamental insight into functional neuroanatomy with a particular focus on the cerebellum.
• The first part of the day will focus on nervous system development from birth through adulthood, supported by relevant examples.
• The second part of the day will focus on the cerebellum from a developmental perspective, including an overview of the different cognitive domains and their relation to cerebellar function.
• Sex hormones and their influence on brain development will be discussed as well.
Participants
PhD-studens from the following programmes are considered target groups:
Psychology
Medicine
Neuroscience
No specific qualifications are needed to participate.
Relevance to graduate programmes
The course is relevant to PhD students from the following graduate programmes at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH:
Neuroscience
Psychiatry
Language
The course will be held in Danish, except if one or more students need it to be in English.
Form
Lectures and discussions.
Course director
Lise Aksglæde
MD, PhD
Department of Growth and Reproduction, 5064
Rigshospitalet
Blegdamsvej 9
2100 København Ø
+45 3545 1860
Teachers
Jane Evald
• Title/Affiliation: Psychologist and Specialist in Clinical Neuropsychology with children and adolescents; Specialist in Clinical Psychology and approved Supervisor. Private practitioner and consultant for VISO (the Danish national knowledge and specialist advisory organization).
Martin Faber Boxill
• Title/Affiliation: Neuropediatrician. Senior Consultant at the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescents, Viborg Regional Hospital (Denmark).
Dates
23 and 24 February 2026
1st day: 10:00 - 17:00
2nd day: 09:00 - 16:00
Course location
TBD, Rigshospitalet or Panum
Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules.
Applications from other participants will be considered after the last day of enrolment.
Note: All applicants are asked to submit invoice details in case of no-show, late cancellation or obligation to pay the course fee (typically non-PhD students). If you are a PhD student, your participation in the course must be in agreement with your principal supervisor.