DEP-3103 Chapter Notes -Cerebral Cortex, Neuroplasticity, Synaptic Pruning
Document Summary
Sex differences in gross motor skills: physical. Adolescence: boys develop more strength, speed, endurance: social. More athletic pressure on boys (cid:222) may lead to more practice may underlie the differences in physical growth. Brain development: synaptic pruning: neurons which don"t form a connection with others with experience die off, cerebral cortex. Largest, most complex structure in the human brain. Makes possible the unique intelligence of our species. Last brain structure to stop growing (growing till at least the age of 25) Sensitive to environmental influences for longer than any other part of the brain. Frontal lobes most extended development: thought: consciousness, reasoning, planning, problem-solving, etc. Lateralization of cerebral cortex we"re aren"t born with that lateralization, specialization comes in childhood, not typically for left-handers (remains un- lateralized, associated with creativity/genius) Verbal/language abilities : sensory information and control of right side of body, positive emotion, sequential, analytical processing.
