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Chapter 9

Chapter 9. Intellectual Development in Infants. Chapter Objectives. Describe how a baby’s experiences increase brain function Explain how the brain becomes organized List four abilities that show intellectual growth in infants

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Chapter 9

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  1. Chapter 9 Intellectual Development in Infants

  2. Chapter Objectives • Describe how a baby’s experiences increase brain function • Explain how the brain becomes organized • List four abilities that show intellectual growth in infants • Identify specific abilities that babies learn during Piaget’s first period of learning • Name five ways caregivers can encourage learning • Discuss how to choose toys appropriate for babies of different ages

  3. Chapter 9.1 Early Brain Development

  4. The Structure of the Brain • A neuron is a nerve cell • Links between these neurons are formed immediately • Neural pathways are the links that develop between neurons • The pathways “wire” the brain so it can control different body functions and thinking processes • Created quickly • Maximum number of links is reached by age 10

  5. Parts of the Brain • Each section controls a specific function or job of the body • One of the most important parts : Cortex • Part of the brains cerebellum and its growth permits complex learning • As babies experience more input from the world, they brains respond by making more connections • As caregivers hold, play, and talk to an infant, the baby actually uses these experiences to build the brains capacity

  6. Parts of the Brain: Cerebrum • Receives information from senses and motor activities • Controls speech, memory, and problem solving • Most activities occur in the outer layer • Cerebral cortex (cortex)

  7. Parts of the Brain: Pituitary Gland • Secretes hormones that control • Growth • Metabolism • Sexual Development

  8. Parts of the Brain: Brain Stem • Controls • Involuntary activities • Breathing • Heart rate • Blood pressure

  9. Parts of the Brain: Spinal Cord • Transmits information from the body to the brain and vise versa • Controls simple reflexes that do not involve the brain

  10. Parts of the Brain: Cerebellum • Controls • Muscular coordination • Balance • Posture

  11. Parts of the Brain: Thalamus • Relays sensory information from other parts of the brain to the cerebral cortex

  12. How the Brain Works • Neurons are connected by axons • An axon is the connection between neurons that transmits instructions from the cell body to another neuron • Axons are coated with a fatty substance called myelin • Myelin helps transmit messages • Dendrites branch out each axon to receive the electrical messages

  13. How the Brain Works • Dendrites and axons do not touch • A synapse is the tiny gap between the dendrites where messages are transmitted • Neurotransmitter is a chemical released by the axon • Chemicals look for a dendrite to attach to but they can only attach to specific receptors

  14. Developing the Brain • More pathways give the brain more power • Gives the brain more flexibility • The increase connection is the direct result of sensory input • The more the baby interacts with the world, the more complex the brain’s “writing” becomes

  15. How the Brain is Organized • Organization is based on the particular experiences unique to that child • As connections between dendrites and axons grow stronger, neurons link together • They become systems of nerve cells that control certain groups • Systems of neurons work together to influence how babies see, hear, think, and remember • This is how learning takes place • Humans learn new behaviors all their life

  16. How the Brain is Organized • Connections between neurons are not permanent • They can be broken when not used often • This is called pruning • At the same time connections are being lost, new ones are being made • This is called branching • The branching and pruning process helps the brain focus on useful connections and then acquire more skills

  17. Stimulating Infant Brain Development

  18. Speeding the Brain’s Work • When a baby is born only those nerves that control basic instincts, like nursing, have myelin coating • Other axons get a coating of myelin as they child grows • Process continues until age 20 • Myelin is added at different times to different areas • Which axon receives the fatty myelin may explain why some children have difficulty learning certain tasks • Myelin is crucial to the speed in which nerves function • Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the absence of myelin plays a role

  19. Chapter 9.2 Intellectual Development During the First Year

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