🧬 Chapter 2: Biological Bases of Cognitive Development
🧠 OVERVIEW
This chapter explores how biology and brain development shape cognitive abilities. It
highlights the roles of evolution, genes, brain structure, and plasticity — and how
environment and biology interact in complex ways across development.
🌍 EVOLUTION AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
🧬 Evolutionary Theory
● Evolution: Change over generations via natural selection.
● Psychological traits (e.g., problem-solving, memory) may be evolved adaptations that
increase survival.
● Modern cognitive development is grounded in evolutionary thinking.
👶 Evolutionary Developmental Psychology
● Focuses on how evolved mechanisms develop during childhood.
● Two types of adaptations:
○ Deferred adaptations: Develop later to prepare for adulthood.
○ Ontogenetic adaptations: Serve an immediate function in childhood (e.g.,
imitation to foster bonding).
🧠 David Geary’s Model: Biologically Primary vs. Secondary Abilities
● Biologically primary abilities:
, ○ Evolved for survival (e.g., language, social interaction).
○ Acquired naturally and universally.
● Biologically secondary abilities:
○ Culturally specific (e.g., reading, math).
○ Require formal instruction and motivation.
● Human cognition is flexible, with extended childhood to allow learning.
🧬 GENE–ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION
🧪 What Is It?
● A person’s genotype (genetic makeup) interacts with the environment to shape
development.
● One genotype can produce different outcomes in different environments.
🧠 Developmental Systems Approach
● Emphasizes bidirectional relationships: genes ↔ behavior ↔ environment.
● Key concept: Epigenesis
○ Development is not caused by genes alone, but by their interaction with
experience.
● Supported by twin studies and research on breastfeeding and cognitive outcomes.
⏳ Developmental Timing
🧠 OVERVIEW
This chapter explores how biology and brain development shape cognitive abilities. It
highlights the roles of evolution, genes, brain structure, and plasticity — and how
environment and biology interact in complex ways across development.
🌍 EVOLUTION AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
🧬 Evolutionary Theory
● Evolution: Change over generations via natural selection.
● Psychological traits (e.g., problem-solving, memory) may be evolved adaptations that
increase survival.
● Modern cognitive development is grounded in evolutionary thinking.
👶 Evolutionary Developmental Psychology
● Focuses on how evolved mechanisms develop during childhood.
● Two types of adaptations:
○ Deferred adaptations: Develop later to prepare for adulthood.
○ Ontogenetic adaptations: Serve an immediate function in childhood (e.g.,
imitation to foster bonding).
🧠 David Geary’s Model: Biologically Primary vs. Secondary Abilities
● Biologically primary abilities:
, ○ Evolved for survival (e.g., language, social interaction).
○ Acquired naturally and universally.
● Biologically secondary abilities:
○ Culturally specific (e.g., reading, math).
○ Require formal instruction and motivation.
● Human cognition is flexible, with extended childhood to allow learning.
🧬 GENE–ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION
🧪 What Is It?
● A person’s genotype (genetic makeup) interacts with the environment to shape
development.
● One genotype can produce different outcomes in different environments.
🧠 Developmental Systems Approach
● Emphasizes bidirectional relationships: genes ↔ behavior ↔ environment.
● Key concept: Epigenesis
○ Development is not caused by genes alone, but by their interaction with
experience.
● Supported by twin studies and research on breastfeeding and cognitive outcomes.
⏳ Developmental Timing
