Cognitive Development Flashcards
What is happening at around week 3 in neural development?
The embryo’s cells are starting to migrate towards their predetermined locations
The central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system has began to develop
The brain has began to develop into 3 sac-like vesicles: The forebrain, the midbrain and the hindbrain
What development is occurring from 8 weeks onwards of neural development?
The nerves begin to undergo synaptogenesis and making connections with each other, muscles and other tissues as well as organs
This process is influenced by environmental factors and experiences
At 2-3 years of age the number of synapses hit peak level
What processes occur from 28 weeks onwards of neural development?
The nerves begin the process of myelination. This process slows significantly after 2 years of age, but does continue through adolescence or later
What is synaptic pruning?
It is a process in which extra synapses are eliminated, therefore increasing the efficiency of the neural network. Major synaptic pruning stops at around 10 yrs, which 50% of the synapses present at age 2 have been eliminated. Minor pruning occurs throughout life
What is Plasticity?
It is when neuronal connections change based on experience.
Synapses and neurons that are more active become stronger
Synapses and neurons that are less active become weaker, or are removed
What is developmental plasticity?
It is the changes in neural connections as a result of interaction with the environment. It occurs throughout life but diminishes significantly with age
What is adaptive plasticity?
It is the brains ability to compensate for lost functionality due to brain damage
It occurs over the lifespan, however it is most effective during infancy and early childhood
Why are critical periods so important in development?
These are periods of development where an organism has a heightened sensitivity to external stimuli.
Once the critical period has passed there will be irreversible damage
These periods will start and end abruptly
What is a enriched environment?
It is when the brain is stimulated by its social, cognitive and physical environment.
It tends to enhance brain development
What is a deprived environment?
It is when the brain is lacking stimulation by its social, cognitive and physical environment.
It tends to impede brain development
What is attachment?
Attachment is a strong, close emotional bond that develops between an infant and their caregiver, which lasts many years
If this attachment never occurs, it is called privation, and can cause permanent emotional damage
What is Lorenz (1935) theory of attachment?
Lorenz investigated the mechanisms of attachment in geese.
He took a clutch of goose eggs and put half with a mother goose and half he kept in an incubator. Lorenz made sure he was the first moving thing his geese saw and imitated a mother gooses quacking.
He found that geese follow the first moving thing they see, this process is known as imprinting and suggests that attachment is innate and programmed genetically. Once imprinting occurred it could not be reversed.
The critical period of this happening can occur within 36 hours
What was Harlow & Zimmermann’s (1958) theory of attachment?
They proposed the behavioural attachment theory. This suggested that infants form an attachment with a caregiver that provides food, however Harlow believed that emotional comfort was critical
What was Bowlby’s (1969) theory of attachment?
He proposed that children come into the world biologically pre-programmed to form attachments with others, as this will help them to survive.
He proposed that attachment develops through a period of 5 years (the first 2 being most critical)
What is secure attachment?
- It is seen in the majority of people.
- Distressed when mother leaves
- Avoidant of stranger
- Will seek immediate contact upon return
- Uses mother as a safe base
