FMST 210 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Synaptic Pruning, Primitive Reflexes, Motor Skill
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Physical changes: the brain and nervous system. Cortex (convoluted grey matter): perception, body movement, thinking, language. 2. (a) define the term synaptogenesis, which occurs due to growth of both dendrites and axons. 3. (b) define the term synaptic pruning, which occurs because each synaptic growth spurt generates many more synapses than we actually need. Synaptic pruning = process by which unused or unnecessary neural pathways and connections are eliminated (c) overtime, the cycle of synaptogenesis followed by synaptic pruning leads to a more efficient brain. Begins in infancy, continues in spurts throughout childhood and adolescence, complete in mid 20s (a) what brain structure: reflexes and behavioural states. Reflexes (i will expand on this section in the chapter 4 lecture template on adaptive reflexes) Withdrawal from painful stimulus, opening/closing of pupil of eye in reponse to variations in brightness (c) compare the purpose of adaptive reflexes to the purpose of primitive reflexes.
