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The Brain & Plasticity Growth & Development Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 1 Growth & Development Physical Growth: rapid growth through first year. The pace of weight gain slows during the second year, it still continues to increase. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 2 Disproportionate growth cephalocaudal principle: “head to tail” Proximodistal principle: “near to far” Principle of Hierarchical Integration: simple skills typically develop separately and independently. Later they are integrated into more complex skills. Principle of the independence of systems: The body systems grow at different rates. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 3 Facts about the Brain: At birth, the brain has all the brain cells or neurons that it will ever have. Brain neurons do not regenerate. The environment modifies brain structure. Neural plasticity – ability to change its structure and function in response to external experiences. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 4 Brain Research At birth, humans do not yet possess a fully operational brain. Environment affects how genes work; genes determine how the environment is interpreted. Dr. Marion Diamond at the U. of CaliforniaBerkley, 1960s. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 5 More Facts about Brain The brain develops in an integrated fashion over time. Learning is gradual. For ex…a baby doesn’t learn how to talk in one week. The brain is curious and seeks connections between the new and the known. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 6 More Facts about Brain IQ is not fixed at birth. Intervention programs can prevent children from having low IQs. Some abilities are acquired more easily during certain sensitive periods. PET scans – Positron Emission Tomography. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 7 Applications of Brain Research Premature Infants For example…. Maternal smoking Alcohol use Infant malnutrition Lead poisoning 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi Policies We spend 7x more on care for elderly than on children from birth to 5 years old. 8 Brain Research The role of nutrition of brain function. How brain chemicals affect mood, personality, and behavior. The connection between mind/brain and the body. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 9 The developing brain B – 3 Years At Birth: 100 billion neurons 1 trillion glial cells – honeycomb that protects & nourishes the neurons Lay out circuits in place. Sensory experiences change brain structure. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi Deprivation of stimulating environment leads to decreased brain development. Malleable brain, e.g. stroke, epilepsy 10 Genes and the Brain 100,000 genes in human DNA Some 50,000 genes appear to be dedicated to constructing and maintaining the nervous system. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi Experience kicks in. The connections lends the growing brain exceptional flexibility & resilience. 11 Brandi Binder 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 12 Neural circuitry & stress Children who are physically abused – brains tuned to danger. Emotional deprivation – marked reduced activity in the left frontal lobe. Physical, emotional abuse / neglect – child’s brain is forgiving – for a time. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 13 Emotional deprivation early in life Brain wave patterns of brain activity displayed by children who were born to mothers diagnosed as suffering from depression. As infants, these children showed markedly reduced activity in the left frontal lobe – an area of the brain that serves as a center for joy and lighthearted emotions. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 14 Eye Children born with a cataract will become permanently blind in that eye if the clouded lens is not promptly removed. Why? The brain’s visual centers require sensory stimulus to maintain their tentative connections. Critical period for the eye is 3 years old. Same holds true for hearing. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 15 Language Many linguists believe that language skills unfold according to a strict, biologically defined timetable. The case of Genie. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 16 Plasticity Brains greatest growth spurt decreases at about 10 years old. By 18, the brain declines in plasticity but increases in power. Potential for greatness is encoded in the genes; but whether potential is realized involves how patterns are etched by experience in critical years. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 17 Politics of Biology Addictive disorders, sexual orientation, criminality? Due to nature/nurture. Research: finding a new gene for lots of things. E.G., shyness, tendency to divorce, lack of happiness, etc. Implications for belief in genes: decreases sense of responsibility for ailments. E.G., alcoholism – victim or have control? 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 18 Politics of Biology Research for years…to identify genetic roots for aggression, violence, criminality. 1965 study found imprisoned criminals were more likely than other people to have extra Y chromosome. Research did not turn out to be accurate. XYY men were less intelligent but not aggressive. 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 19 Genetics & Psychiatric Disorders Schizophrenia – past view…resulting from mothers who were apathetic toward their children. New view: genetics. Takes guilt away. Managed care issues – if due to biology – will only pay for drug therapy. Homosexuality studies. LeVay (1991). 5/24/2017 Dr. Carolyn R. Fallahi 20