Brain Development

Question 1

Piagets’ theory of development

Answer 1

2 Factors:
Genetic contribution: born with developing brain ready to learn
Environmental contribution: experience leads to developing new mechanisms

Question 2

Neuroblasts in the prenatal brain

Answer 2

Neuroblast is a neural tube containing proliferating cells which form the nervous system.
Passively pushed to destination or active carried via radial glial cells

Question 3

Postnatal development of the brain

Answer 3

Increase in brain size due to:
Myelination - not completed in frontal cortex until adolescence.
Synaptogenesis - formation of synapses between neurons in NS.
Glial cell proliferation.

Question 4

Theories of how neurons in different brain parts develop

Answer 4

Protomap theory: regional layout is specified prenatally

Protocortex theory: sensory experience via the thalamus determines specialization of cortex

Question 5

Critical period

Answer 5

Filial Imprinting (Lorenz) : Chicks form attachment to moving object seen in a particular time window, hard to for attachment after this time.

Question 6

Sensitive period

Answer 6

Idea that the timing of the attachment window is flexible and changeable

Question 7

Innate vision

Answer 7

Crair et al, (1998) development of cats visual cortex in first 3 weeks is the same irrespective of whether it receives visual input - arises without need for environmental guidance.

Question 8

Innate likes and dislikes

Answer 8

Prepared learning: fear of snakes but not objects suggests innateness (tends to be socially learned)
Taste: preferences for infants
Harlow: maternal love is a learned response to having needs met

Question 9

Behavioural genetics; twin studies

Answer 9

Compare consistencies between monozygotic and dizygotic twins: the greater the distance in concordance rates the greater the genetic influence

Question 10

Behavioural genetics: adoption studies

Answer 10

Adopted children have same environment as adopted family but different genetics.

Question 11

Heritability

Answer 11

Degree of variance in a trait that can be assigned to genetics rather than environmental differences

Question 12

Gene-environment interplay (Rutter et al, 2006)

Answer 12

Environment alters gene expression
Gene-environment correlation: genes cause individuals to seek certain environments
Gene X environment interaction: cannabis/schizophrenia

Question 13

Grammar genes

Answer 13

Evidence of a defective grammar gene - effect found for multiple aspects of language
Associated with changes in basal ganglia
Linked to FOXP2 gene.

Question 14

Dyslexia Contradiction

Answer 14

Dyslexia seems heritable but reading is a cultural invention

Question 15

Epigenetics

Answer 15

Studies changes in organisms caused by changes in gene expression rather than the alteration of the genetic code

Question 16

Neurogenesis

Answer 16

Creation of neurons - process by which neurons are generated from neural stem cells
Occurs largely in the developing brain and in the adult brain but less
Hippocampus, olfactory bulb, cerebellum - in the rest of the brain neurons can die but not be recreated

Question 17

Neuroplasticity

Answer 17

Ability of brain to change throughout lifetime
Forming neural connections through:
Experiences in environment
Sensory stimulation
Normal development