Lecture 6 - Neurological Growth and Maturation Flashcards
1
Q
Neurogenesis
A
- creation of new neurons through cell division
- begins when neural tube closes
2
Q
Apoptosis
A
- genetically programmed cell death
3
Q
Brain growth spurt
A
- fastest growing part of the body
- large volume increase is due to glial cells also dividing, and myelination
4
Q
Myelination
A
- fatty sheath insulating axon
- helps speed up transmission of messages
- starts at back of brain, ends at front of brain
- demyelination starts at the front of the brain and ends at the back
5
Q
Cerebral Lateralization
A
- Two distinct hemispheres that control different things
- act in tandem w/ the help of the corpus callosum - bundle of nerve fibers that allow the hemis to communicate
6
Q
Functional specialization
A
- activity triggered by general stimuli causes specialization
- brocas and wernickes are an EX
7
Q
Synaptogenesis
A
- process of forming new synapses (site of comm of neurons)
- occurs through entire lifespan
8
Q
Synaptic pruning
A
- neurons that are rarely used go through apoptosis
- frequently used neurons become stronger
- cannot be reversed
9
Q
Experience/Expectant Learning
A
- experience the brain expects to receive, it needs environmental input to develop
- input must be received during specific periods, or the ability is lost
- chimps losing their vision EX
10
Q
Neural plasticity
A
- how the brain is wired/shaped by experience
- less specialization = greater plasticity, more resilient to damage
11
Q
Functional plasticity
A
- functions from damaged area of brain are moved to undamaged
- hemispherectomy for EX
12
Q
Structural plasticity
A
change to the brain’s physical structure as a result of learning, experience or memory formation
- long taxi drivers hippocampuses are larger
13
Q
Experience-Dependent learning
A
- experience brain doesn’t expect to receive, EX: learning how to play the violin or how to work a phone
- associated w/ structural plasticity
- no critical/sensitive period
- daily changes accumulate -> detectable neurological changes
14
Q
Structural changes in adolescence
A
- corpus callosum thickens
- amygdala develops before the prefrontal cortex - cause for risk taking behaviors
- more rash decisions are being made, very sensitive to reward
15
Q
The digital invasion
A
- internet addiction alters connectivity patterns just like cocaine or meth
- mess connectivity and volume in frontal lobes and memory centers
- overall brain shrinkage
