Cognitive development 2

executive functions

help plan, monitor and execute goal directed behaviour

support children’s ability to regulate own behaviour

working memory

paying attention, remembering facts while completing tasks

inhibitory control

following rules and delaying gratification

cognitive flexibility

planning, making judgements, self correcting

cold vs hot ef

ef in artificial environment vs real world

Action potential

brief change in electrical potential across cell membrane

sodium channels open and sodium enters, potassium channels open and potassium leaves, ion transporters pump sodium and potassium back to original locations

Neurons

basic functional units, take in info (reception,) integrate (conduction) and pass to others (transmission)

Glial cells

nourish, protect, physically support neurons

Oligodendrocytes - covers CNS axons with myelin

myelination in CNS

oligodendrocytes

myelination in PNS

Schwann cells

cortical changes in infancy to early childhood

synaptogenesis (growth of new synapses,) cell death and synaptic pruning

depends on environment and experience

changes in brain volume

Grey matter - neuronal cell bodies, glial cells, dendrites

inverted U pattern of growth, with gradual decreases starting in late childhood

white matter - myelinated axons

linear increase

myelogenetic cycles, sensory/motor pathways myelinate early and higher order functions myelinate late, thought to be complete by early 20s

tests for working memory

N back, List sorting working memory model

cognitive flexibility tests

winsconsin card sort, dimensional change card sort

inhibitory control tests

stroop test, flanker test

explicit memory

intentional recollection of previous experiences

increases through infancy and adulthood

implicit memory

retention on task without intentional remembering

not age related

Perceptual priming

previous exposure to stimulus facilitates later access to stimulus - research has shown no age related improvements to implicit memory

explanations for increases in explicit memory

changes in basic capacities, memory strategies, knowledge about memory, knowledge of world

changes in basic capacities (hardware)

improvements in short term and working memory

short term memory capacity increases from 2 years to peak at 7+/ - 2 around 10

2 years - around 2

changes in memory strategies (software)

encoding strategies develop in order - rehearsal, organisation, elaboration

changes in knowledge about memory

metamemory

changes in knowledge of world

knowledge base and familiarity increases memory performance