5 Development Psyc

Flashcards for Development Psychology lectures on Biological and Cognitive Development.

Grey matter

Darker outer portion of the brain.

White matter

Lighter inner portion of the brain.

First and second brain

The enteric nervous system (ENS), containing 400-600 million neurons, able to function autonomously and regulate the functions of the gut.

Neurons

Basic unit of the brain, send and receive signals.

Sensory neurons

Activated by physical or chemical input.

Motor neurons

Carry signals from the CNS for muscles, glands, and tissues.

Interneurons

Connect sensory and motor neurons.

Myelin sheath

Increases speed and efficiency of neuron signals.

Astrocytes (glial cells)

Maintain neuron’s working environment by controlling neurotransmitter levels.

Oligodendrocytes

Support axons and extrude myelin.

Schwann cells

Form an additional layer around the axon and are the main glial cell found in the peripheral nervous system.

Microglia

Immune system in the brain. Identify when something is wrong and initiate a response to remove toxins.

NG2+ cells (polydendrocytes)

Precursor to other glial cells.

Neurulation

Process of forming the neural tube.

Neurogenesis

Process of generating new neurons from neural stem cells.

Pluripotency

Any neuron has the potential to serve any neural purpose.

Arborisation

Increases dendrites capacity to form connections with other neurons, contributes to cortical thickness.

Myelination

Formation of myelin sheath around axons by oligodendrocytes, allows for complex movement, cortical areas become myelinated at different rates.

Synaptogenesis

Growth of axonal and dendritic fibres, each neuron forms synapses with thousands of others.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death.

Experience-dependent plasticity

Neural connections are constantly being created and reorganized by our specific experiences

Sensorimotor Stage (Piaget)

Children use senses and motor skills to interact with the world around them, mediated by physical processes.

Primary circular reaction (Sensorimotor substage)

Repeats pleasurable actions in their own body, intentional reactions rather than automatic reflexes.

Secondary circular reactions (Sensorimotor substage)

Intentionally repeating actions that incorporate objects.

Tertiary circular reaction (Sensorimotor substage)

Uses trial and error to see what happens next, starting to recognise object permanence.

Preoperational Stage (Piaget)

Starting to understand language, symbols, pictures and signs but can’t reason logically.

Preconceptual stage (Preoperational substage)

Symbolic stage, able to understand symbols and words and can communicate but are tied to their own egocentric perspective.

Intuitive stage (Preoperational substage)

Children can understand the perspective of others, less egocentric.

Concrete Operational Stage (Piaget)

Thinking logically about concrete objects and can perform mental operations on things in the world

Formal Operational Stage (Piaget)

Can think abstractly and operate logically and transform things mentally.

Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory

Children learn through a close interactive relationship with a more competent person – scaffolding

Zone of Proximal Development (Vygotsky)

Learning happens in the zone of proximal development where a peer or adult prompts the child to do slightly more than they can already do