PSYC 304 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Microcephaly, Synaptogenesis, Critical Period
Document Summary
Chapter 3: the dramatic physical and cognitive development in infants. Sudden infant death syndrome: triple-risk model of sids. First year of life when vital functions are stabilizing. How does the body grow: top-down. Head end first, feet end last: inside-out. Control the truck before the control of the hands: head size is important continuing to grow = healthy development. After zika: 20 cases per 10000 (3900 cases since october) Brain development: at birth, brain is 25% of adult size; at 2 years, brain is 75% adult weight, born with 100+ billion neurons; 2500 synapses- by age 2: 15,000 synapses. Getting rid of unused connections; makes brain more efficient. Influences on brain development: maturation (genes) and experiences. Necessary for the brain to develop: ex. No matter where an infant lives, he or she hears sounds and language. Experience-dependent brain functions depend on exposure to particular events.
