W1 Flashcards
What is the primary characteristic of the adult brain according to the adult model?
The adult brain maintains a relatively static gross form and number of neurons until old age.
According to the developmental model, what are the key developmental changes in the brain from infancy to adulthood?
The brain experiences:
* a 3-4 fold increase in mass
* net decrease in neuron number
* massive increase in connections
* increased myelination.
At what ages do the visual and frontal cortexes reach adult form?
The visual cortex reaches adult form by 2-4 years, and the frontal cortex by 10-20 years.
What is the adult model of working memory?
The adult model of working memory includes:
* Central executive
* Phonological loop (verbal storage)
* Visuo-spatial sketchpad
* Episodic buffer.
In a picture recall task, what are the adult results regarding working memory?
Average adult recall is 7 +/- 2 items, with word length effects and phonological interference, using phonological storage (verbal repetition).
In a picture recall task, what are the children’s results regarding working memory?
Memory span increases with age, with no word length effect or phonological interference, and children primarily use visual storage.
How does working memory develop with age?
Working memory develops discontinuously with age.
What are domain-general abilities?
Domain-general abilities apply broadly across various tasks and areas (e.g., working memory, processing speed).
What are domain-specific abilities?
Domain-specific abilities are specialized for particular areas (e.g., motor, social, or math abilities).
What is qualitative change?
Qualitative change involves a shift in the nature or structure of thinking or behavior (a new stage or type).
What is quantitative change?
Quantitative change involves gradual increases or decreases in the amount or frequency of something (e.g., more vocabulary, faster processing).
What are innate traits?
Innate traits are early developed, similar across children, and similar across different contexts and cultures.
What are acquired traits?
Acquired traits have extended development, significant variation between children, and vary between different contexts and cultures.
What is a continuous process in development?
A continuous process is where things remain stable over time (e.g., personality preserved across development).
What is a discontinuous process in development?
A discontinuous process is a series of abrupt changes (e.g., individual is fundamentally more different than in the past).
How do we assess developmental change?
We use age comparison analogies:
* Longitudinal (same individuals over time)
* Cross-sectional (different age groups at one time)
* Sequential (combining both).
What is maturation?
Maturation is developmental changes that result from the aging process (e.g., puberty).
How do we determine causality in developmental theory?
Through:
* Covariation (variables occur together)
* Non-Spuriousness (no other variable explains the relationship)
* Temporality (cause precedes effect), best established through longitudinal designs.
What is longitudinal research?
Research measuring the same individuals for more than one point in time.
When is longitudinal research appropriate to use?
When the focus is on within-person change over time, the stability of individual differences, or the causes of development.
What type of designs are needed in longitudinal research?
Prospective (start early, follow over time) or Retrospective (look back from an outcome).
What are the three most common longitudinal designs?
Panel Studies (single group), Multiple Cohort/Cohort Sequential Studies, and Intervention/Experimental Studies.
What are the key characteristics of a cross-sectional study?
Data collected at a single point in time, comparing performance across different age groups, describing relationships at that time, and no manipulation of variables.
What are the limitations of a cross-sectional study?
Cannot measure inter-individual change, cannot assess stability of traits, and provides only a ‘snapshot.’
Can cross-sectional research advance developmental theory?
No, it cannot provide evidence about temporal ordering of cause and effect and is confounded by cohort effects.
What is a cohort?
A particular set of historical and cultural conditions that affects individuals born in the same time period.
What are generation effects?
Cohort or generation effects exert a systematic influence on development.
How do we assess developmental change, considering potential confounds?
Use longitudinal and cross-sectional studies, focusing on internal validity and considering confounds like cohort/generation effects and time-of-measurement effects.
What is sequential design?
Studying multiple DIFFERENT cohorts over a period of time.
