quiz 4/lecture 6 Flashcards
critical period
a window of time in which an environmental stimulus is crucial to the development of a system
a particular time when an event(or absence of) has specific impact on development
heightened sensitivity to environmental stimuli
discrete and brief,
example: vision
sensitive period
can learn after the window has closed, but it is more difficult
example: 2nd language
occular dominance columns
critical period for acquiring vision
light input from the left and right eye equally compete so that developmentally binocular vision is formed
equal distribution of the cells in the occipital lobe for vision allows for binocular vision–> if this period is missed (cat example) those cells are not layed out the same way –> monocular vision
enriched environments
rat study
the control was closer to deprivation and the enriched environment more likely demonstrated a natural environment
findings: not clear if enriched envirnoment really is better, but deprived environment has developmental negative effects
enriched environment according to study:
- increased learning
- increased synapse formations
- increased dendritic spines
- more neural growth
behavior growth influences
nature (DNA)
Nurture( experience- Dependent)
experience expectant
Experience Dependent
those developmental behaviors that make you you
what SPECIFIC language you speak, or ability to read
must have environmental input to develop
experience expectant growth
what the organism’s brain development depends on ordinary experiences and opportunities
Phenotypes that make you a typical human
dire consequences if no input is received
occurs naturally
ex: vitamin D–> we evolutionary know the sun will be there
Teratogens
umbrella term for anything that will harm the fetus in prenatal development
most effective during the sensitive period of an organisms rapid growth
dependent on genetic diathesis
can be transmitted through the father as well
the placenta is not a perfect barrier
genetic diathesis
the predisposition of the degree of impact a teratogen will have
prenatal stress
acute or chronic
can impact the stress of the child
monkey study
- display stereotypies and less locamotion at baseline
- cling in moments of stress vs. partial contact
stressful experience of mother affecets child’s social behavior
HPA Axis
hypothalamic pituitary axis
how stress gets into the brain
cortisol effective in finding extra energy–> when working properly–> negative feedback loop
When there is too much cortisol–> positive feedback loop–>
When mother produces cortisol it is passed to the fetus through the placenta
negative feedback loop
the hypothalamus sends out signal(CRH) to pituitary gland–> sends signal (ACTH) to Adrenal which produces cortisol
enough cortisol for the situation is produced and then the signaling stops
postive feedback loop
with chornich stress the receptors in the hypothalamus are damaged by too much cortisol
cortisol production doesn’t stop
this cortisol will bind to the amygdala
this causes the hypothalamus to continue sending signals to produce cortisol
this cortisol passes to the fetus through the placenta
