ECON 1B03 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Synaptic Pruning, Local Government In Connecticut, Visual Acuity
25 Mar 2015
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ECON 1B03 Full Course Notes
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The brain is the fastest organ to reach adult size (it"s 30% of its adult weight at birth, 70% at age 2, and 90% at age 6) By the 1st month of the developing embryo, neural plate folds into neural tube. Neurons begin forming 10 weeks after conception. By 7 months, we have all the neurons we"ll ever have. In the 4th month of prenatal development, axons begin acquiring myelin (sensory neurons first, cortex neurons last) The number of dendrites and synapses reaches a peak by our 1st birthday. The brain is built in stages, beginning with innermost layers (6 in total) The brain growth spurt (ages 0 to 2) Communication systems between neurons become more and more elaborate. Myelination occurs (myelin alone accounts for ~50% of the brain"s volume!) Following the peak in dendrites and synapses around the age of 1, synaptic pruning occurs. Synapses begin to disappear and extends into early adolescence.
