PSYC 2070 : Psyc 2070 Final Study Guide
Document Summary
Neurogenesis and pruning continues across the lifespan but neurogenesis slows down dramatically when we get older. Staying engaged cognitively by doing things like painting, reading, novel avctivities are ways to make new connections in the brain. Social interaction helps our brain work better as well. Physical activity helps us remain cognitively intact as well. Higher education allows for more cognitive reserves to slow down aging as well. The corpus collosum gets thicker the older we get, our brain works together better as we get older. Cataracts are very common in late adulthood, glaucoma (build of pressure damaging the optic nerve)is also common in late adulthood, macular degeneration (deterioration of the retina) is common too. Macular degeneration starts in the middle, and peripheral vision gets smaller and smaller over time. There"s a lot of accommodations for people with these visual disorders. Older adults have a higher threshold for pain than younger adults and that can be good or bad.
