Psychology Module 5

Infancy

A lifespan stage, between birth and childhood (approximately 0 to 2 years of age).

Adolescence

A lifespan stage, between childhood and young adulthood (approximately 12 or 13 years to 18 or 19 years of age).

Developmental plasticity

The development and consolidation of neural pathways in babies, children and adolescents.

Proliferation

The first stage in the development of the nervous system, where cells destined to become neurons divide and multiply.

Migration

During developmental plasticity, the movement of newly formed neurons.

Circuit formation

A process that involves axons of new neurons growing out to target cells, forming new synapses.

Synaptogenesis

The process of moulding or forming new synapses.

Synaptic pruning

The loss of excess neurons and synapses usually formed in infancy and childhood.

Myelination

The production of myelin, the white, fatty covering that insulates a neuron's axon, speeds transmission and aids coordination.

Neural plasticity

The ability of the brain's synapses to be modified where neural networks change through growth and reorganisation.

Critical period

A period in development when certain experiences must happen for typical development to proceed.

Teratogen

An environmental agent or toxin that harms the embryo or fetus.

Imprint

An immediate attachment that is formed soon after birth.

Experience-expectant learning

Experiences necessary for learning to occur, most often during sensitive periods.

Sensitive period

The best or optimal time for an individual to learn new things due to the nature of the growing brain.

Experience-dependent learning

Learning that occurs at any time during an individual's life as a result of experience.

Enriched environment

An environment that provides social and physical brain stimulation.

Deprived environment

An environment that lacks brain stimulation.

Structural plasticity

The ability of the brain to change and adapt throughout life.

Functional plasticity

The ability of the brain to alter the location of functions to compensate for brain injury.

Sprouting

When a neuron forms new branches.

Rerouting

When a neuron removes existing connections and forms new connections with other neurons.

Aphasia

The impairment of language caused by damage to the brain.

Broca's aphasia

A result of damage to Broca's area that leads to difficulty in expressing messages in words or sentences, but the ability to comprehend speech is largely unaffected.

Wernicke's aphasia

Results from damage to Wernicke's area that causes difficulty in understanding written and spoken language (and in producing speech) that makes sense to others.