1.5 Problem 8
Brain and NS
Midbrain: regulates attention, sleep, waking, automatic function
Largely developed at birth
Medulla: largely developed at birth
Cerebral cortex: governs perception, body movement, thinking, language
Least developed part of brain at birth
Frontal Lobes: logic and planning
Prefrontal Cortex: executive processing
Brain growth spurts:
o Restricted to 1/few parts of brain
o 13-15 years, 1st brain growth spurt
= Prefrontal cortex
o 17-early adulthood, 2nd brain growth spurt
= frontal lobes
Synaptic development
Synaptogenesis- synapse formation/creating connections between
neurons w. rapid growth of dendrites and axons
0-2 years after birth, rapid rate in cortex: brain triples weight
Period of pruning- eliminating unused synapses
Neurotransmitters
Plasticity- capacity to respond to experience throughout the lifespan
- Greatest in first few years
Sensitive Periods in Brain Development
Experience-expectant brain growth- young brain’s rapidly developing
organisation
o Dependent on ordinary experiences: opportunities to interact with
people
Hear language/sounds
See/touch objects
Move/explore environment
Experience-dependent brain growth- additional growth and
refinement of established brain structures as a result of specific learning
experiences (vary widely across individuals and cultures)
o Occurs throughout life
Hormones
Endocrine glands: secrete hormones controlling physical growth and
sexual maturing
-pubertal growth and physical changes
Puberty- series of hormonal and physical changes in adolescence,
resulting in sexual maturity:
Primary sex characteristics- growth of tests/penis or
ovaries/uterus/vagina
Secondary sex characteristics- breast development or voice
break/beard and body hair
Brain and NS
Midbrain: regulates attention, sleep, waking, automatic function
Largely developed at birth
Medulla: largely developed at birth
Cerebral cortex: governs perception, body movement, thinking, language
Least developed part of brain at birth
Frontal Lobes: logic and planning
Prefrontal Cortex: executive processing
Brain growth spurts:
o Restricted to 1/few parts of brain
o 13-15 years, 1st brain growth spurt
= Prefrontal cortex
o 17-early adulthood, 2nd brain growth spurt
= frontal lobes
Synaptic development
Synaptogenesis- synapse formation/creating connections between
neurons w. rapid growth of dendrites and axons
0-2 years after birth, rapid rate in cortex: brain triples weight
Period of pruning- eliminating unused synapses
Neurotransmitters
Plasticity- capacity to respond to experience throughout the lifespan
- Greatest in first few years
Sensitive Periods in Brain Development
Experience-expectant brain growth- young brain’s rapidly developing
organisation
o Dependent on ordinary experiences: opportunities to interact with
people
Hear language/sounds
See/touch objects
Move/explore environment
Experience-dependent brain growth- additional growth and
refinement of established brain structures as a result of specific learning
experiences (vary widely across individuals and cultures)
o Occurs throughout life
Hormones
Endocrine glands: secrete hormones controlling physical growth and
sexual maturing
-pubertal growth and physical changes
Puberty- series of hormonal and physical changes in adolescence,
resulting in sexual maturity:
Primary sex characteristics- growth of tests/penis or
ovaries/uterus/vagina
Secondary sex characteristics- breast development or voice
break/beard and body hair
