The new phrenonology? Alzheimer’s Art

Structures of the Human Brain Bio Bases, 3 Structures of the Human Brain

Basic building blocks

Building block of communication Bio Bases, 5 Building block of communication

Brain Development 6 processes 1) Neurogenesis 2) Cell migration

Brain Development 6 processes 3) Synaptogenesis

Brain Development 6 processes 4) Cell death and synaptic pruning

Brain Development 6 processes 5) Myelination

How long does brain development continue?

Brain Development

Brain Development 6 processes 6) lateralization

Major Milestones of Brain Development These effects should begin to suggest to you why all these changes in the brain matter: they are closely, intimately connected to development of all abilities. At birth, infant has a brain w/ very few connections and runs very slowly. Hard to do much with that, and newborns don’t- there’s actually little cortical activity. But development is rapid- baby arithmetic, etc Where do these abilities come from? Obviously partly dependent on experience, but also closely tied to changes in the brain, both the formation and pruning of synapses, and increasing myelin. Examples: MOTOR CORTEX synaptogenesis begins in motor cortex around 2 months, and this is around the same time that infants loose their startle (Moro) CHECK! and rooting reflexes and begin to develop purposeful movements. Further, myelination of the motor cortex is largely complete by the end of the second year, corresponding to the age at which most children are walking. By 4 years, fibers connecting the motor cortex to the cerebellum are myelinated. The cerebellum is important to balance and control of body movements; the myelination of the fibers to it allows preschoolers their greater body control to that they can jump and throw—abilities that were previously beyond their coordination. VISUAL CORTEX there is a burst of synaptic growth and myelination around 3 mos in the auditory and visual cortexes—same period of dramatic gains in both these forms of perception, as brain fine-tunes connections, for example, those allowing the eyes to focus on an object. Sensory cortex is also the first area of cortex to be completely myelinated, by the end of the first year, and it is also the first area where children achieve adult-like abilities. Increased brain power and organization means the infant can make more sense of its surroundings—and of course, as infant perceives new things, this will further change and enrich the connections

Brain development 1) Increased speed

Brain development 2) Increased complexity 3) Increased efficiency increased complexity [OH of EEGs by age and of ERPs by intelligence] first shows increasing complexity of spontaneous brain activity in one infant second shows complexity of brain waves as subject is solving a problem. Note how subject w/ higher IQ test scores also shows more complex brain wave- suggesting that more complex does correlate w/ more smarts Also, ERPs of infants and children lack a specific component called the P300 wave. So named because it’s a positive wave that occurs 300 ms after the onset of a stimulus. Is the closest thing we have to an index of conscious mental experience. Shows up in adults and older kids anytime we are presented w/ a significant, unexpected event P300s don’t reach adult levels of speed and strength until late adolesence.

Brain Plasticity Experience sculpts brains versus

Limits of brain plasticity Stimulus Right damage Left damage

Limits of brain plasticity

How much stimulation do infants need? Mozart Magic Cube