development

Question 1

describe the thalamus (“information hub”)

Answer 1

-located in each hemisphere (both sides of brain)
-is deep in the brain
-relays sensory info to the cerebral cortex
-acts as a centre for pain perception

Question 2

describe the cerebellum

Answer 2

-located in the base of the brain above the spinal chord
-coordinates movement and dexterity (movement of hands) and balance
-responsible for language and emotions
-one of the last parts of brain to reach maturity

Question 3

describe the cortex

Answer 3

-is the outer cover of the brain
-responsible for higher cognitive functions (e.g speech)
-there’s the frontal cortex, motor cortex, interpretive cortex etc
-develops and functions in the womb

Question 4

describe the brain stem

Answer 4

-connects to spinal chord
-controls messages between the brain and rest of body
-controls autonomic functions
-most highly developed part of brain at birth

Question 5

what are autonomic functions?

Answer 5

functions that are not a conscious process (automatic)
-e.g heartbeat, breathing, sleeping
-are controlled by brain stem
-need to be well developed at birth because of survival

Question 6

what is sensory porcession?

Answer 6

when the brain and nervous system receive sensory info from the world around us and turn it into appropriate responses
-takes place in sensory area of cortex
-sensorimotor coordinate then begins to develop

Question 7

what is movement?

Answer 7

changing your body’s location of position (“motor activities”)
-takes place in motor area of the cortex (particularly at birth but continues to develop after birth)
-sensorimotor coordinate then begins to develop

Question 8

what is cognition?

Answer 8

mental process
-thinking, planning, problem solving
-cognition develops throughout our lives

Question 9

what is cognitive development?

Answer 9

a way a person’s knowledge, thinking, and intelligence changes as they get older

Question 10

what is assimilation?

Answer 10

when we receive new information or experience a new situation, a type of learning causes us to add new information to an existing schema

Question 11

what is accommodation?

Answer 11

when we receive new information or experience a new situation, a type of learning happens that causes us to make a big change to an existing schema or develop a new schema