PSYC 110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Derek Paravicini, Savant Syndrome, Autism Spectrum
Document Summary
Neuroplasticity in response to damage: brain plasticity, or neuroplascticity refers to changes in neural pathways and synapses due to changes in behavior, environment, neural processes, thinking, emotions, as well as changes resulting from injury. The brain has an amazing amount of neuroplasticity! Examples of neuroplasticity: someone without a cerebellum, you would expect terrible optimization, but this woman had super mild sy(cid:373)pto(cid:373)s for so(cid:373)eo(cid:374)e (cid:449)ho did(cid:374)"t ha(cid:448)e a (cid:272)ere(cid:271)ellu(cid:373). Increased evolutionary fitness benefits: underlying biological constraints, ex. Institutional rearing leads to: social problems and trouble with attachment, externalizing problems, autism-like syndrome, growth stunting. Critical periods for certain functions reduced in those placed in foster care at: adhd symptoms are not significantly, any age, cortical development and reduced, these reductions in thickness explain, elevated adhd symptoms in institutionalized children. Institutionalization results in disrupted thickness in many cortical areas. Improves incidental, but not intentional learning: slight improvement to working memory.
