PSY 223 Lecture 22: Psychology of Childhood Chapter 8
22 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
Become more kid shaped and less baby shaped . Brain develops more quickly than any other organ during early childhood. By 2-years-old 75% of adult weight. By 5-years-old 90% of adult weight. Continued myelination - improves motor coordination, attention, speed of visual processing/visual scanning (ability to read) Connects right and left hemispheres of brain. Allows for integration of emotional and cognitive functioning. Ability of brain to adjust and change/compensate for injuries. Greatest plasticity at 1-2 years of age. It decreases from there (though some plasticity possible into adulthood) Sprouting growth of new dendrites, can allow for rearrangements of neural connections. Redundancy of neural connections, if one connection is damaged a different connection can still carry out function. Huge amount of growth in motor skills during early childhood. Gross motor skill development involve large muscle groups. Walks up and down stairs, two feet at a time, 2. 5 years jumps with both feet, including off stairs.
