PSY100H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Synaptic Pruning, Eric Lenneberg, Critical Period
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PSY100H1 Full Course Notes
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Environment and culture influences the pace of child development (ex. In some countries, infants are seldom left to crawl on the ground because of hygiene issues; those infants crawl at a later age) During the embryo stage, internal organs and nervous system begin to form. The fetus stage undergoes a great deal of physical growth. > basic brain areas form by week 4 followed by cortex (week 7), thalamus and hypothalamus (week. > hormones in the womb can influence the developing fetus (ex. Stress hormones -> low birth weight and negative cognitive and physical outcomes) Teratogens: environmental agents that harm the embryo or fetus development cognitively and physically (ex. Grasping reflex and rooting (sucking) reflex are basic reflexes that aid survival. > myelination: brain"s way of insulating wires to increase the speed with at they are able to transmit signals. > brain adopts a use it or lose it policy -> frequently used synapses are preserved; unused ones decay.
