Intro to DCN
A scientific debate between whether development is largely determined by innate predispositions or experience
Nature versus nurture
Forms of the same gene seen on a pair of chromosomes
Alleles
Folding of the neural plate in development of the neural tube
Neuralation
Postnatally, many brain structures and functions show this pattern of development
Rise and fall
Neurotransmitters originating outside of the cortex
Extrinsic
Developmental changes in the brain that are expected to be due to aspects of the environment that are shared by all or most members of the species
Experience-expectant
This gene is affected in fragile X syndrome, and is expected to contribute to widespread effects, including autism-like symptoms
FMR1
Neurons compete for these chemicals to ensure their survival
Neurotrophic factors
Occurs as a result of increasing numbers of synapses, dendrites, fiber bundles, and myelination
Growth in brain size
This NT is already active in prenatal development, but does not reaching mature levels until about 10 years of age
Acetylcholine
Founder of the constructivist view of child development
Jean Piaget
Many genes can play multiple roles at different times of development and in different areas of the developing individual because they are
Pleiotropic
Area of the developing forebrain containing the developing cortex
Telencephalon
Development of this is ongoing does not follow the characteristic pattern of postnatal development
White matter/myelination
When levels of GABA are reduced in the animal brain, levels of this NT drop, as well
Glutamate
This viewpoint on human functional brain development holds that cognitive change is the result of ongoing interactions between brain development and experience-driven activation
Interactive specialization
Phenylketonuria causes intellectual impairment, at least in part through its effect on this neurotransmitter system
Dopamine
Viewpoint proposing that neuron differentiation occurs early in formation of the cortex, without any necessary neural activity
Protomap/cell-autonomous/intrinsic specialization
Synapse elimination occurs at varying developmental timepoints based on
Brain region/specialization
There is evidence that the impact of this NT on the brain changes across early postnatal development
GABA
At their extreme, perspectives emphasizing nature or nurture may be considered
Predeterminant/preformationist
A knockout mouse model of FXS has been used to show that the impacted gene is associated with learning but not fear conditioning. This raises questions about this frequently observed behavioral result of FXS in humans
Social anxiety
Postnatal brain imaging work with preterm infants indicates that these first develop during the prenatal period
Resting state networks
Research with these participants shows that there is a lot of variation in brain structure that cannot be explained simply by genetics
Monozygotic twins
These NTs (3) innervate deeper cortical levels before more superficial ones
Acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin