Task 3

Question 1

Nervous System Development

1: Neurogenesis

Answer 1

= mitotic division of non neuronal cells to produce neurons
- after mitosis: cells form ventricular zone (region lining cerebral ventricles that display mitosis, providing neurons early in development and glial cells throughout life)

Question 2

Nervous System Development

2: Cell Migration

Answer 2

= movements of cells to establish distinct nerve cell populations

Question 3

Nervous System Development

3: Differentiation

Answer 3

= transformation of precursor cells into distinctive types of neurons and glial cells
- Induction: process by which one set of cells influences the fate of neighboring cells, usually by secreting a chemical factor that changes gene expression in the target cells

Question 4

Nervous System Development

4: Synaptogenesis

Answer 4

= establishment of synaptic connections, as axons and dendrites grow

Question 5

Nervous System Development

5: Neuronal Cell Death / Apoptosis

Answer 5

= the selective death of many nerve cells

- cells not dying because of defect –> seems like they have “decided” to die –> death genes

Question 6

Nervous System Development

6: Synapse Rearrangement

Answer 6

= loss of some synapses and development of others, to refine synaptic connections

Question 7

Cell differentiation

Answer 7

shapes cell into distinctive forms and functions of neurons found in that particular region

Question 8

Pruning/Apoptosis

Answer 8

neuronal cell death, surplus of cells die

- pruning: “use it or loose it” –> making brain more efficient

Question 9

Neurolation

Answer 9

• within first 3 weeks of conception
• CNS arises from neural plate:
  neural plate —> neural grove —> neural tube

Question 10

Neural profileration

Answer 10

• differentiation of neural tube

- production of new nerve cells

Question 11

Mitosis

Answer 11

cell duplication —> one cell gives rise to two genetically identical daughter cells

Question 12

Myelination

Answer 12

process of myelin formation around axons

• helps information to travel faster
• frequently used connections more efficient

Question 13

Neurotrophic factors

Answer 13

= molecules that enhance growth and survival potential of neurons
- guidance cues for developing neurons

Question 14

Migration/aggregation

Answer 14

Migration:
- supported by glial cells
- inside-out-pattern of cortical development
- external influences (e.g. alcohol —> fetal alcohol syndrome)
Aggregation:
- brain structures

Question 15

Cell differentiation

Answer 15

shapes cell into distinctive forms and functions of neurons found in that particular region

Question 16

Article

- in general

Answer 16

• adolescents hypersensitive for affective input
• better in reasoning for affective situation: child –> no risk-seeking
• limbic system of adolescent a lot bigger

Question 17

Article

- “hot” pathway; situations

Answer 17

Limbic System
- heightened arousal –> more likely to engage in risky behavior –> “hot” situations make biggest difference between adults and adolescents

Question 18

Article

- “cold” pathway; situations

Answer 18

Prefrontal Cortex

• decision making in low emotional conditions, rational
• adults: less sensitive to affective inputs

Question 19

Research Designs:

- Cross-sectional design

Answer 19

= children of different ages are compared on a given behavior or characteristic over a short period

• Pro: Useful data about differences among age groups; quick and easy to administer
• Con: uninformative about stability of individual differences over time and similarities and differences in child’s patterns of change

Question 20

Research Designs:

- Longitudinal design

Answer 20

= same children are studied twice or more over a substantial length of time

• Pro: indicates degree of stability over long periods; reveals child’s pattern of change over long periods
• Con: difficult to keep all participants in study; repeatedly testing children can threaten external validity of the study

Question 21

Research Designs:

- sequential design

Answer 21

= combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal

• Pro: compensates for weaknesses; shoe generational effects
• Con: most costly; lots of energy and effort; always add new samples