PSYB20H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, Inductive Transfer
Document Summary
Enter this stage at about age 7 begin to use mental operations to solve concrete (actual) problems. Children can think logically and take multiple aspects of a situation into account, but thinking is still limited to real situations in the here and now. The gradual development of executive function (conscious control of thoughts, emotions, and actions to accomplish goals or solve problems) from infancy through adolescence is the result of developmental changes in brain structure. The prefrontal cortex, the region that enables planning, judgement, and decision-making shows significant development through this period. As unneeded synapses are pruned away and pathways become myelinated, processing speed improves dramatically (as measured by reaction time) Faster, more efficient processing increases the amount of information children can keep in working memory, enabling complex thinking and goal-directed planning. School-age children can concentrate longer than younger children and can focus on the information they need and want while screening out irrelevant information.
