lifespan development - neutral plasticity

Question 1

neural plasticity

Answer 1

the ability of the brain’s neural structure or function to be changed by experience throughout the lifespan

Question 2

developmental plasticity

Answer 2

the sequence of stages that the human brain progresses through infancy to adulthood. changes in the brain occur more frequently in the fetal stage and in babies, children & adolescents - this process will diminish with age

Question 3

infancy - stages

Answer 3

proliferation, migration, synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning, myelination

Question 4

proliferation

Answer 4

neurogenesis, the production of new neurons from stem cells occurs around 5 weeks into gestation and finishes around 28 weeks

Question 5

migration

Answer 5

after proliferation, neurons move to their location within the nervous system. some are pushes along passively by the newest cells formed after them. other actively propel themselves towards their locations

Question 6

synaptogenesis

Answer 6

neurons form synapses with thousands of others, resulting in trillions of connections throughout the nervous system. occurs pre-natally & after birth, the amount of synapses peaks around 2-3 years. timing and rate varies depending on cortical area within the brain (i.e. occurs earlier in visual cortex compared to pre-frontal cortex)

Question 7

synaptic pruning

Answer 7

the process where the weakest synapses between neurons are eliminated. synapses that are active are strengthened and the ones that are not used are weakened. this occurs most rapidly between the ages of 2-10

Question 8

myelination

Answer 8

when axons of all the neuron are covered in myelin (white fatty substance) which helps protect & speed up electrical signals. occurs pre-natally up until early adulthood, starts in the spinal cord and then progresses from the hindbrain to midbrain and then forebrain

Question 9

adaptive plasticity

Answer 9

ability of the brain’s neurons to alter the connections between synapses to change their neural structure to adjust to experience, to aid recover from lost function or to maximise remaining functions after a head injury

Question 10

re-routing

Answer 10

an undamaged neuron who has lost a pathway will seek a new pathway with another active neuron

Question 11

sprouting

Answer 11

the growth of dendrite fibres which enables the neuron to make new connections with other neurons

Question 12

effect of changes in brain structures on behaviour and emotion in adolescence

Answer 12

the brain reaches its largest physical size in females at around 11, and around 14 in males. the brain does not finish developing and maturing until the mid 20s, happening in a back to front pattern

Question 13

amygdala

Answer 13

structure in the limbic system that has an important role in memory, emotion, perception of threat and fear learning. at this stage, the pre-frontal cortex have not fully developed therefore adolescences may rely more on the amygdala to process information to make decisions. therefore adolescents are more likely to act on impulse, misread/misinterpret social cues & emotions, get into accidents, get involved in fights, and engage in dangerous/risky behaviour. they are less likely to think before they act, pause to consider consequences of their actions, and change their dangerous or inappropriate behaviour

Question 14

pre-frontal cortex

Answer 14

final part of the brain to mature, myelination and synaptic pruning occurs and improvements in information and connections between pre-frontal cortex occur, and subcortical structures are strengthened. as the pre-frontal cortex continues to develop, so does inhibitory control, processing speed, working memory and decision making