Sensitive and Critical periods

Question 1

What is the difference between critical and sensitive windows?

Answer 1

A critical period is a sensitive period where presence or absence of an experience results in an irreversible change.

Question 2

What is a sensitive period?

Answer 2

A time in development in which the brain is particularly responsive to experiences in the form of patterns or activity.

Question 3

What is imprinting?

Answer 3

Rapid phase-sensitive learning independent of the consequences of behaviour. (critical window)

Question 4

What is filial imprinting?

Answer 4

The identification of auditory and visual impulses to recognize the parent.

Question 5

What was the aim/method/result of the experiment done by Hubel and Wezel?

Answer 5

Aim: Investigating critical period in visual development of the cat.
Method: Shutting one eye in the critical period timeframe.
Result: The eye won’t work after it is being reopened.

Question 6

What are three conditions to open a sensitve period?

Answer 6

• Reliable input: Information bust be sufficiently reliable and precise to allow the circuit to carry out its function.
• Connectivity: adequate inhibitory and excitatory connections in order to process properly.
• Plasticity: The circuit must have activated mechanisms that enable plasticity. e.g. ability to alter axonal or dendritic morphology, making or eliminating synapses, or changes in strength of synaptic connections.