Lisa Montgomery, then 36, (glasses) met Bobbie Jo Stinnett, 26, on a chat room about rat terriers. Lisa went by the alias “Darlene Fischer,” telling Bobbie, who was pregnant at the time, that she was pregnant as well. The two went on to email each other, discussing their pregnancies.…
To explore cognitive development in terms of the specialisation of function in specific cortical structures, one must outline association between structural differentiation and functional specialisation. The typically developed adult brain shows predictable associations between specific cortical areas with particular cognitive functions. Prior to maturation, the developing brain demonstrates increasing differentiation in both structure and function of cells, with structural changes directly affecting functional capacity. The structural differentiation[1] of neural pathways through the processes of dendritic growth, myelination and encapsulation result in cortical areas highly efficient in supporting particular types of information, or specialised functions. The underlying reasons for the organisation…
Our brains shape and reshape themselves in ways that depend on what we use them for throughout our lives. Learning language is a nice example of how experiences contribute to each person's unique pattern of brain development.…
· As evidence, researchers reveal major changes in brain organization show up within this spurt period.…
They have learned that there are critical periods for brain development. They discovered that parents fill a vital role in the development of their child’s brain through their interactions with the child.Parents and caregivers must provide proper stimulation to help develop connections. Scientists believed that children's brains were predetermined to a great extent in terms of how they would develop. However, scientists now know that an infant's experiences help determine how connections are formed and which pathways will develop in the brain. Thus, rather than being predetermined, an infant's brain is a work in progress, influenced not only by his or her genetics, but also the surrounding world.…
R. (2002). Neural plasticity: The effects of environment on the development of the cerebralcortex. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.…
_____ rapidly sprout new connections among each other, a dramatic phase of synaptic growth that is influenced by the infant's experiences and stimulation from the environment.…
Brain development continues during early childhood. Children learn rapidly and brain changes enable more reflective coordinated thought and memory (Stassen Berger, 2010).…
From conception to about 3 years of age, not only is the infant’s brain and nervous system developing, but also the psychological formation of their bodies.…
What biological, cognitive, emotional and psycho-social mechanisms work to produce these changes? Are these changes pre-programmed at conception, the influence of environment, or both? Developmental psychology, as a field of scientific enquiry, attempts to describe and explain these everyday human wonders. The knowledge of developmental psychology is in many ways intrinsically rewarding, but it also has enormous potential to…
Child gains control over their body and uses their senses to understands and recognises objects around them…
genes are expressed (i.e., turned on and off) in the developing brain. While good early…
Babies and young children show different rates of development, but this is because sometimes it is linked to experiences during conception, pregenecy and birth.…
To begin with, the changes that the young brain undertakes to create a complex organ are ultimately much faster and mature by the end of the long session. The neurons used to send signals around the body consist of nerve fibers, which slowly become insulated with Myelin, boosting the Axon’s transmission speed up to a hundred times (Dobbs 2011). The dendrites, which are root-like stems connected to the cell body, begin to grow richer and stronger as they use heavier synapses to pass information to another (Dobbs 2011). The less commonly used synapses consequently begin to weaken. It is called synaptic pruning, which causes the brain’s cortex to become thinner yet more proficient (Dobbs 2011). “Physiologically, adolescence brings a peak in the brain's sensitivity to dopamine, a neurotransmitter that appears to prime and fire reward circuits and aids in learning patterns and making decisions” (Dobb 2011)…
Newborns have innate abilities for finding nourishment, avoiding harmful situations, and interacting with others - all of which are genetically designed to facilitate survival. From the moment of conception to the nine-month prenatal period, the zygote becomes an embryo and then a fetus. Teratogens taken in by the mother that can cause damage to the developing fetus. Development of sensory abilities and basic reflexes begins in the prenatal period. And at birth newborns prefer sweet taste and familiar sounds and have visual abilities ideally suited for looking at faces. The newborns brain contains some 100 billion neurons. Infancy spans the first 18 months of life. Maturation refers to genetically programmed events and timeline of normal development. Infants need human contact to survive and thrive, and their innate sensory abilities, reflexes, and mimicry promote development of social relationships.…