brain development Flashcards
1
Q
myelination
A
the growth of myelin(substance that covers axons)
- the highest level of growth occurs shortly after birth and in adolescence which is when they are longer with denser branches at the ends
- hindbrain then midbrain then fore brain
- sensory areas are myelinated than motor areas
2
Q
synaptogenesis
A
- the synapse is the spcae between one neuron’s axon terminal and other neurons dendrite , this is refered to as the formation of new synapses
- process accounts for majoirty of brain growth
- after birth, neurons develop more dendrites and become bushier as they provide more options for connections
- they grow in sensory areas then motor areas then association areas
- increases by ten times within the first 15 months
3
Q
synaptic pruning
A
the brain fine tunes its neural connections based on experinece and elimaintaes connection it doesnt need( use it or lose it)
- occurs over many years from sensory to motor areas
- completed in the visual cortex by the age of 10
- continues untill the age of 30
- burst in early adolesnces
4
Q
frontal love development
A
- association areas is the part of the brain to mature
- areas at the bottom grow and develope before areas at the top.
- synaptogenesis increases significatnyl between ages 3-6 causing a significant increase in cogitive abilites
- under developement of prefront cortex is thought to explain immaturity of decision making, poor judgement and lack of emotional regulation
