Chapter 9: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood Flashcards
Prefrontal cortex
Executive functioning and thinking, regulates thoughts, emotions, and behavior
Gray matter
Unmyelinated neurons
White matter
Myelinated brain tissue (myelination speeds up transmission)
Hippocampus
Increased neural connections to prefrontal and parietal, increased ability to experience and remember things, episodic memory (specific details)
Adrenarche
“Pre-puberty”, trigger adrenal glands to increase amount of fat before puberty begins. Body hair and odor, first molars.
Brain development
Growth of cerebellum and connections to parietal lobe. Balance, coordination, speed. Complex movements and fine motor skills.
Physical activity
60+ min a day recommended for children. Lowers anxiety and improves mental health, associated with cognitive and physical health.
____ socioeconomic homes have higher rates of injury
low
BMI
body mass index, calculated based on height and weight. Obesity is being above the 95th percentile for age and height.
Obesity can lead to….
Depression, low self-esteem, orthopedic problems
Developmental disabilities
ADHD, autism, specific learning disorders (dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia)
ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: persistent attention difficulties and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Structural abnormalities in the brain. Interferes with daily functioning. More common in boys, 80% heritable.
ADHD treatment
Medication, symptoms decline with age, behavioral strategies
ADHD patterns
- Inattentive - difficulty with attention, careless mistakes, not listening well or following directions, trouble organizing. More difficult to diagnose, “head in the clouds”
- Hyper-active impulsive - fidgeting, trouble sitting still in class. Easier to diagnose.
- Combined presentation
Autism spectrum disorder
Family of neurodevelopmental disorders, difficulty in social engagement behavior, repetitive disorders, effect on intellectual functioning, difficulty with working memory. More common in males and epigenetic.
Autism spectrum disorder strategies
Use of a first/then chart to provide structure and additional time to process information, use of visual tools
Three specific learning disorders
Dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia
Specific learning disorders
Children who demonstrate a difference between aptitude (intelligence, genetics) and achievement. Can be affected by race and socioeconomic status for diagnosis and treatment.