PSY2071 Study Guide - Final Guide: Synaptic Pruning, Visual Perception, Object Permanence
5 Aug 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Growth follows a pattern: head & upper body parts --> rest of the body. Development proceeds from the center of the body outward. Principle of hierarchical integration: simple skills develop separately and independently. Later they are integrated into more complex skills. Principle of independence of systems: different body systems grow at different rates. Synaptic pruning: process of synapse elimination that occurs between early childhood and the onset of puberty overproduction of synapse in infancy and through experience, the obsolete connections are pruned. Unused neurons are selectively eliminated --> allows established neurons to build more elaborate communication networks with other neurons --> increased efficiency of neural transmission. Plasticity: degree to which a developing structure or behavior is modifiable due to experience. Sensitive period: specific, limited time when the individual is particularly susceptible to environmental influences. Infant"s sensory experience affect both the size of neurons and the structure of their connections.
