Nelson et al., 2007

Question 1

premise

Answer 1

For healthy brain and cognitive development to occur, infants and children must be exposed to certain experiences…

Not all early experience is created equal…

Question 2

method

Answer 2

• institutionalized group (IG) : lack of social interaction (neglect), little stimulation
• foster care intervention group (FCG): children randomly selected to be adopted into foster families

Question 3

results

Answer 3

-Gains in general cognitive ability (IQ) at 4.25 years compared to baseline measures were greatest the FCG compared to the IG

– But the greatest cognitive gains were seen in children adopted PRIOR to age 2 yrs

– Children adopted AFTER age 2 yrs, showed diminished gains in cognitive ability

Question 4

sensitive or critical period

Answer 4

-sensitive period

–kids who got the experience before age 2 had greater effect, but kids who got the experience after age 2 had some effect

Question 5

experience expectant or experience dependent

Answer 5

experience expectant

-bc humans need a caregiver, they are expected to have someone take care of them