Chapter 9 Neurodevelopment (Post-Natal Development)

Question 1

What three things cause post-natal growth

Answer 1

1. Synaptogenesis
2. Myelination
3. Increased Dendritic Branching

Question 2

What pattern does Myelination follow?

Answer 2

Same as Functional Development:

Sensory -> Motor -> Higher-Level

Question 3

What pattern does Increased Dendritic Branching follow?

Answer 3

Progresses from deeper to more superficial layers of cortex

Question 4

What four things is the development of the prefrontal cortex linked to?

Answer 4

1. Working Memory
2. Planning
3. Inhibiting contextually inappropriate responses
4. Following rules for social behaviour

Question 5

What are perseveration errors?

Answer 5

Common around 7-12 months of age
“response inhibition”
-inability to suppress previous response when task demands change —choosing answer that once was right even though question has changed

Question 6

What is a critical period?

Answer 6

Period where it is essential for an experience to occur in order for development to proceed
-speech centre is the only known critical period - must develop by 13 yrs

Question 7

What is a Sensitive period?

Answer 7

Interval where an experience will have a great effect on development - but if interval is missed development will still occur

Question 8

What are three examples of rewiring the sensory system?

Answer 8

1. Roe - auditory system developed retinotopic map
2. Knudsen and Brainard - barn owls raised with prism: auditory and spatial maps realigned
3. Munte et al - effect of music = increased auditory cortex

Question 9

What is neurogenesis?

Answer 9

Growth of new neurons

Question 10

What are two findings about neurogenesis?

Answer 10

1. New neurons continuously added to olfactory bulbs in rats

2. New hippocampal neurons continuously added in primates

Question 11

What is tinnitus?

Answer 11

Ringing of ears

-produces major reorganization of primary auditory cortex

Question 12

What are early symptoms of autism?

Answer 12

Delayed language development

Delayed development of social interaction

Question 13

What is the cause of autism?

Answer 13

Unknown

• very heterogeneous = difficult to find underlying cause
• abnormal ffa activity

Question 14

What are the characteristics of autism?

Answer 14

Reduced ability to interpret emotion in others
Reduced capacity for social interaction
Preoccupation with single object or activity

Question 15

What are the causes of Williams?

Answer 15

Genetic: abnormal chromosome 7
Cortical Thinning
Cortical Thickening

Question 16

What are characteristics of Williams?

Answer 16

Mental Retardation
Severe visuospatial problems (spatial memory and drawing)
-increased social interaction