Early brain development Flashcards
Structure of brain
Pink (main area)- Forebrain
Green (middle, small area)- Midbrain
Yellow (stalk)- Hindbrain
What are the three sections of the brain which develop when the foetus is around 3- 4 weeks old?
Forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain.
What is the forebrain?
The anterior (towards the front) part of the brain, including the hemispheres.
What is anterior?
Towards the front of our brain
What is the midbrain? (brainstem)
The middle section of the brain.
What is the hindbrain?
The lower part of the brain.
By five weeks old, how has the forebrain split?
The forebrain splits into an anterior and a posterior section.
What is posterior?
Towards the back of the brain.
When does the cerebellum develop?
6 weeks to a year after birth.
Where is the medulla oblongata (brainstem) positioned and what is its role?
Is in the hindbrain in front of the cerebellum, and connects the upper brain to the spinal cord. It controls involuntary responses. E.g. sneezing and breathing.
From the age of 0- 3 years old, 700- 1000 new neural connections are forming every second in the baby’s brain. What are neural connections?
Allows fast communication between the many different parts of the brain.
Why is it important that babies receive plenty of stimulation?
The brain doubles in size over the first year and reaches 80% of its size by the age of 3 years. Stimulation is important for the development and reinforcement of neural connections.
What is involuntary response?
Automatic responses.
What is cerebellum?
An area of the brain near to the brainstem that controls motor movements (muscle activity)
What is involuntary response?
a response to a stimulus that occurs without someone making a conscious choice. (reflex)
