week 4

Question 1

learning human language 4-6 months:

Answer 1

respond to subtle phonetic differences between syllables in unfamiliar languages and own language

Question 2

learning human language 10-12 months:

Answer 2

discrimination narrowed with experience: responds differently only to different sounds commonly used in own language

Question 3

behaviours that favour learning being necessary for development

Answer 3

• later on in life
• in a long life
• requiring flexibility in response to environment

Question 4

behaviours that favour minimal requirement for learning

Answer 4

• early on in life
• in a short life
• not requiring flexibility in response to environment

Question 5

sensitive periods

Answer 5

some early experiences must occur within a time window to influence development

Question 6

sensitive periods for language development

Answer 6

• up to age 6
• after this, ability declines
• rare after puberty

Question 7

isabelle language case study

Answer 7

at 6.5 years her and her mute mother escaped silent imprisonmen.
- 9 days, first vocalisation ‘buh’ for ball
- 10 days later, increase in vocabulary
- 1 month later, simple sentences ‘(open ur eyes’)
- 2 months later, more complex sentences (‘i dont want you to go home’)
finally age 8 - full language

Question 8

synaptic pruning

Answer 8

process of synapse elimination that occurs between early childhood and the onset of puberty

Question 9

infant and adult brain body energy %

Answer 9

adults use 20% of the body’s energy

infants use 60% of the body’s energy

Question 10

what is channelling

Answer 10

possible routes for development are increasingly constrained over time

Question 11

examples of experiences in channelling

Answer 11

travel: confidence, independence, career choice
experiencing and witnessing illness and accidents : constraints on activities, increased care, fears and closer family
Infidelity in close relative: caution in forming relationships
close relative with psychological condition: career choice

Question 12

self-regulation

Answer 12

modifying behaviour to compensate for environmental change

e.g. if mother less available to kitten 3-18 days after birth, kitten plays with more objects 70-84

Question 13

types of self-regulation

Answer 13

faith
diet
rest
emotional expression

Question 14

equifinality

Answer 14

many developmental routes to the same end

Question 15

song development in birds general principles:

Answer 15

• predisposition:neural template
• importance of experience: juvenile hears song, adult hears itself sing
• plasticity: only sounds close to own song
• sensitive period: must be heard in the first few months
• equifinality