Lecture 5: Postnatal Brain Development

Question 1

At what age does synaptic pruning begin?

Answer 1

4.

Question 2

What effect does initial exposure to a high stress environment have on neurogenesis?

Answer 2

Less cell proliferation, therefore fewer new neurons and less activation in a no stress environment and less inhibition in a high stress environment. So results in poorer cognition and higher anxiety, respectively.

Question 3

When experience dependent plasticity is occurring, what happens to the dendritic branches?

Answer 3

They grow new spines (that form synapses - synaptic plasticity) but the number of branches themselves does not change.

Question 4

The critical period of the formation of neuromuscular junctions is up until what day (postnatally) in a mouse?

Answer 4

Postnatal day 12.

Question 5

What is the difference in brain mapping between second languages acquired before the age of 11 and after the age of 11?

Answer 5

Acquired before the age of 11: overlapping regions of Broca’s area are activated when the languages are spoken.
Acquired after the age of 11: two different areas in Broca’s area are activated when the languages are spoken.