Chapter 6- Brain Development Flashcards
What is PLASTICITY?
The ability of the brain to change based on environmental stimulus
What is DEVELOPMENTAL PLASTICITY?
The development and consolidation of neural pathways in babies, children and adolescence
What is ADAPTIVE PLASTICITY?
The ability of the brain to change, adapt and grow throughout life (but does diminish with age)
What are the five stages of neural development?
Proliferation, migration, circuit formation, synaptogenesis and synaptic pruning
What is PROLIFERATION?
The process where the unborn baby’s cells that will become neurons, divide, multiply, creating approximately 250000 cells per minute
What is MIGRATION?
Where the newly formed neurons move outwards to their destined location
What is CIRCUT FORMATION?
This is when the axons of new neurons grow out to target cells and form synapses with them
What is SYNAPTOGENESIS?
The process of forming new synapses
What is SYNAPTIC PRUNING?
Involved the elimination of excess synapses and neurons. At the same time as elimination of weak neurons others are strengthened
What is MYELINATION?
The production of the white fatty covering that insulates a neuron axon
What parts of the brain develop during adolescence?
Cerebellum, amygdala, corpus callosum and the frontal lobe
What developments happens to the CEREBELLUM during adolescence?
Increases in neurons and synapses.
Developments with the AMYGDALA durning adolescence?
Becomes more active in adolescence
Developments with the corpus callosum during adolescence?
It thickens and increases in the number of connections between the two hemispheres
Developments to the frontal lobe during adolescence?
Improves motor movement and higher order thinking
