What triggers an NTFS's folder date change?

I've searched the internet and here and can't seem to find a simple explanation for what action changes the date that explorer attributes as the folder's date for an NTFS drive?

Reason: I would like the folder date to represent the latest date of the latest file date in the folder.

If there isn't a way within Win7 to stipulate/change this is there a util that will force explorer to act in this manner (I don't want an alternative explorer app if that's what it takes)?

Thanks,

Mark

In my experience the only thing that will change the date stamp on a folder (other than explicitly by some utility) is a change to the folder itself. That means the creation of a new or the renaming or deletion of an existing file or subfolder. Modifying file contents does not qualify. Such changes do not ripple up to higher level folders.

The behavior is what it is. I don't believe there is any supported way of changing this. It could be changed with third party software but I am not aware of any.