Nature / Nurture Flashcards
long debate?
long ass fucking debate
- changed in 1990s due to investigations showing neurogenesis in adults
NATURE
- genetics
- both evolutionarily shared genetics w all humans but also independent genetics
Brain development order
- Hierarchical (bottom up, back to front)
- due to evolutionary preference for survival systems
- complex thinking happens later
Factors affecting maturation rate
(3)
- Survival urgency
- Phylogenetics
- Complexity
NURTURE
- Sensory and motor experience, gonadal hormones, drugs, parent-child and peer relationships, diet etc
- Divides into 2
Types of Experience-Based Development
- Experience Expectant Plasticity
- Experience Dependent Plasticity
Experience Expectant Plasticity
- for universal inputs
- fully rely on expected external stimuli
- contains critical periods of development
[if not met, can have lifelong irreversible consequences] - can also have sensitive periods
[not as rigid, some residual malleability leftover after allocated period]
ex: Light stimulation activating visual system
Experience Dependent Plasticity
- Depends fully on the individual’s experiences
- Less rigid than prev bc its so unique to everyone
Effect of Environment Stimulation
- Environmental enrichment is positive –> Both EDP and EEP are met
- Normative conditions are ok –> EEP is met, EDP is not
- Bad conditions are bad (duh) –> Neither EEP or EDP are met, causing shorter plasticity and underdevelopment
How is stress reaction formed?
Mainly through genetic predispositions that shape the stress-response brain systems like PFC, amygdala and hippocampus
Biological sensitivity to context theory
2 types of children:
- Dandelion
- Orchid
Dandelion Children
- Those who are less sensitive to the environment around them
- 80% of popu
- Resilient
- minimally reactive to stress
Orchid children
- very sensitive stress reactions
- make up 20%of popu
- can have better or worse health (compared to dandelions) depending on their environment
what’s the name for when children aren’t treated great?
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
4 Combinations of ACEs
- Low threat + low deprivation
- Low threat + high deprivation
- High threat + low deprivation
- High threat + high deprivation
Effects of LT LD
- Nurturing environment
- Healthy brain development
Effects of LT HD
- Deprivation will lead to damage proliferation and pruning of neural networks
Effects of HT LD
- Typically through active threat and abuse
- Will induce fear learning
- Shorter period of plasticity
- Underdeveloped brain systems
- Constantly fight or flight
Effects of HT HD
Institutionalization
Epigenetics Definition
Processes upon which experience leads to the modifications of gene expression
Environmentally induced phenotypes
Can epigenetics affect through generations?
Yes. Epigenetics transmission of stress/trauma (like holocaust survivors) can be passed on to next generations. Studies show up to 2 gens, but could be more
Is DNA tightly packed?
Yes, super
this means that sometimes genes are too hidden and don’t get used
but some epigenetic factors open these up, allowing them to be used for good or bad lol
