2.1.6/2.4.1 Developmental Psychology and Key question

Question 1

what are developmental links?

Answer 1

studies following people from conception to old age eg how memory changes and develops and the impact biology and environment have on

Question 2

3 key areas relating to developmental links

Answer 2

-S&HG research on digit span
-impact of dyslexia
-impact of Alzheimers

Question 3

how did digit span increase/slow?

Answer 3

5-11 increased by mean 1.37 digits
11-17 increased by 0.7 digits
17 stopped increasing

Question 4

what is dyslexia?

Answer 4

a reading disorder which affects up to 10% of children and is characterised by problems recognising and decoding words

Question 5

demonstrations of dyslexia

Answer 5

-difficulty reading fluently
-difficulty learning letter sounds
-spelling problems

Question 6

link and advice for ‘remembering facts and dates’

Answer 6

-STM struggles to pass info to LTM
-use visual and auditory aids, create mnemonics

Question 7

link and advice for ‘difficulties multitasking’

Answer 7

-issues with central exec in dividing attention
-step by step instructions, quiet place to study

Question 8

link and advice for ‘issues reading’

Answer 8

-slower processing speeds due to phonological loop
-extra time in exam, materials given before lesson

Question 9

link and advice for ‘struggling with sequencing tasks’

Answer 9

-reduced capacity of visuospatial sketchpad
-create lists and visual maps to simplify complex tasks

Question 10

what was McDougall’s study?

Answer 10

-divided 90 children into poor/moderate/good readers
-poor readers had lower memory spans for words
-poor readers sound words out slowly so less can be held in phonological loop

Question 11

what was Alloway et al’s study?

Answer 11

studied 46 children with reading disabilities and found they had STM deficits that could be cause
-children have difficulty processing words because they cannot hold sounds in working memory long enough to form word

Question 12

what is the link between working memory and learning?

Answer 12

-disruption to working memory can prohibit learning
-STM defects could be cause

Question 13

symptoms of Alzheimers

Answer 13

memory loss
difficulty thinking, problem solving and language
confusion, concentration problems, mood changes

Question 14

what is Alzheimers?

Answer 14

most common cause of dementia
neurological disorder that occurs when the brain is damaged

Question 15

when does Alzheimers occur?

Answer 15

usually after 65
progressive and degenerative

Question 16

what cognitive systems does Alzheimers impact?

Answer 16

memory of new events and info
working memory
central exec
makes complex tasks hard to coordinate

Question 17

Alzheimers impact on hippocampus

Answer 17

-harder to form new memories and learn new inof
-hippocampus required for retrieval of memories, specifically recent ones

Question 18

Alzheimers impact on cortex

Answer 18

-becomes thinner so memories from long ago disappear and brain shrinks

Question 19

Alzheimers impact on left hemisphere

Answer 19

-problems with semantic memory
-problems with language

Question 20

Alzheimers impact on central exec function

Answer 20

-lack of coordination and attention difficulties

Question 21

describing key question (dementia)

Answer 21

-55 million people with dementia in world
-help is provided by local authorities eg respite care
-cognitive stimulation helps dementia patients eg discussion and activities

Question 22

explain 4 symptoms of Alzheimers

Answer 22

-facial recognition lost as spatial and temporal link are lost
-LTM lost as hippocampus is deteriorating, cant be retrieved
-difficult to follow convos as sub vocal rehearsal is restricted
-forget words as short duration in STM, struggle to pay attention,

Question 23

advice and strategies

Answer 23

-post it notes on objects
-pictures of their life
-keep routine
-present options visually and verbally
-keep diary or joticeboard