PSYC 002 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Romanian Orphans, Critical Period, Neuroplasticity
Document Summary
A critical/sensitive period is a time where an organism"s lifespan when it is more vulnerable to environmental influences or stimulation than at other times during its life. Period beyond which a phenomenon will not appear. If it is not present, brain development proceeds abnormally. Mass of the brain grows, but doesn"t mean potential of 80% is reached. Ex) a man tests the instincts of a duckling by being the first thing they saw when they hatched. They typically followed any large object(thinking it is the mom) Critical period of ducks is the first few hours after birth. Romanian orphans attached to caretakers due to absence of parental figures. Even after adoption, child can not grow normally because they can"t function as well w/o the presence of their caretaker. Uncomfortable with their new family(grown too attached during time as an orphan) Took pool of people at different ages and measured them at 24 yrs old.
