Brain and Behaviour: Neurodevelopment & Neuronal Plasticity

Flashcards about Brain and Behavior, including neurodevelopment and neuronal plasticity

What are the two main periods of brain development discussed?

Basic processes prenatally and postnatally

What are the six stages of brain development?

Cell birth/proliferation, cell migration, cell differentiation and maturation, synaptogenesis and synaptic pruning, cell death, and myelination.

Cell birth/proliferation includes what two processes?

Neurogenesis and Gliogenesis

What are stem cells?

Immature cells that divide to form progenitor cells

Each progenitor cell can become what?

A neuroblast or a glioblast

Where does mitosis occur in the neural tube?

The ventricular zone

What is Cell Migration?

The movement of newly formed cells towards the outer layers

What helps cells migrate during cell migration?

Chemical signals (immunoglobulins and cytokines) and physical support provided by radial glia

How does the cortex develop?

Inside-out manner

What occurs during cell differentiation and maturation?

Axon and dendrite formation

What are features of dendritic development?

Dendritic arborization (branching) and growth of dendritic spines

What is induction in cell differentiation?

Process where cells influence the fate of neighboring cells via secretion of chemicals

What is pluripotency?

The ability of immature cells to differentiate into any type of cell based on area characteristics

What is Synaptogenesis guided by, and what occurs during Synaptic Pruning?

Synaptogenesis is guided by various cues and signals, while synaptic pruning eliminates unsuccessful synapses

What is the growing end of the axon called?

Growth cone

What is Synaptic Pruning?

Active synapses are maintained and strengthened, while unsuccessful ones are eliminated

What is the determining factor is for Synaptic Pruning?

Experience

What happens to the brain during adolescence?

The prefrontal cortex is still immature, and synaptic pruning occurs from back to front

What is programmed cell death called?

Apoptosis

What did Rita Levi-Montalcini and Stanley Cohen discover?

Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)

What are survival signals?

Proteins secreted by target cells that promote the survival and growth of neurons

What is Myelination?

Glia form a fatty sheath that covers the axons of neurons.

What does Myelin do?

Speeds up the transmission of neural impulses

Where does myelination occur first, and where does it spread to?

Spinal cord, hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain

What are the key neurogenic regions in the adult human brain?

Olfactory epithelium and subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles

What is the migratory path from the subventricular zone to the olfactory bulb called?

Rostral Migratory Stream (RMS)

What is Collateral Sprouting and how it relates to recovery following injury?

New branching of axons and dendrites

What are some examples of brain adaptations that occur throughout life?

Enhanced tactile and auditory abilities in blind individuals, and better touch and vision in deaf individuals

What is the ability of the brain to adapt according to environmental stimuli called?

Neuroplasticity

What is a critical period?

A period during which the brain is most sensitive to a specific experience

What can many conditions be traced back to?

Environmental factors that lead to pathology later in life

What is one of the main summary points about neuroplasticity?

Neuroplasticity allows for great potential and susceptibility to environmental influences, especially during critical periods