Brain Architecture
How many neurons (brain cells) are babies born with?
100 billion
True or False… Infant language begins to develop around age 1
False. Babies seem to be 'wired' to respond to language right from birth.
True or False… Healthy brain development is all about making babies smarter. This includes expensive toys and special programming.
False.. It’s about everyday nurturing experiences and learning.
True or False… Nurturing can turn on genes for positive traits and suppress or turn off genes associated with negative outcomes.
What is the Limbic system?
A network of structures located under the cerebral cortex that includes tiny structures.
Connections between neurons are called _______
Synapses
True or False… One way to determine a baby's interest in what they are hearing is to monitor their sucking behaviours.
True - Babies will alter the intensity and pattern of their sucking in response to famliar and unfamiliar sounds.
True or False… Babies are born as a blank slate, they are born not knowing enormous amounts of knowledge.
False… The truth is with the new research is that babies are born with already an enormous amount of knowledge of how the world works and how it is organized and how to live in the world.
In brain development, Nature refers to what?
Environments and experiences
What are 3 structures in the brain that connect to the Limbic system?
Brain stem, Cerebellum, and cerebral cortex
True or False… There are more synapses (connections between brain cells) at birth than any other point in life.
False. Most synapses will form in the first few years of life.
True or False… Babies show a preference for their native language
True
When Fraser Mustard talks about sensory pathways, what is he referring to?
Providing opportunities for children to learn through many senses, including touch, sight, smell etc…
What does nurture refer to?
Environments and experiences
Which region of the brain is the Limbic system located in?
A) Hind
B) Mid
C) ForeB) The forebrain
The brain is divided into _______ regions.
3
What are some of the benefits to using Parentese or Baby talk?
It is scientifically proven to boost language development. The slow, sing-song, and high-pitched vocal style helps babies easily detect word boundaries, learn how to physically form sounds, and tune into your emotions.
True or False… Sensitivity and Responsiveness are the same thing.
False.. Sensitivity refers to "reading" the child. Responsiveness refers to acting on what you know.
What does Nature refer to?
What is the Limbic system involved in?
Emotion, motivation, memories, influences, motivations, noise and sensations of pain and pleasure.
the hindbrain, the midbrain and the forebrain.
True or False…. Children who hear less language and fewer words have a more restricted vocabulary and are more likely to have more difficulty learning to read and write.
True. Children who hear language more often, at greater quantities, develop greater vocabularies and, in turn, have a better foundation for literacy.
What is a ‘sensitive period’ in brain development?
Which neural process increases the brain’s effectiveness by eliminating little-use pathways and reinforcing useful ones?
Wiring and pruning.
1. Amygdala
2. Hippocampus
3. Hypothalamus
4. Thalamus