1. Intellectual Development In Infants
Chpt 9
Intellectual Development In
Infants

2. Objectives List the functions of each part of the brain controls.
Describe how brain cells work together.
Explain how the brain becomes organized.
Identify activities that support the development of brain pathways.
Give an example of how neural pathways I the brain help a baby to acquire new skills.

3. Terms Neuron Neural pathways Cortex Axon Myelin Dendrite Synapse
Neurotransmitter

4. Recent Research 280
New activities stimulate or awaken a baby’s sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell and develop new abilities.
Increased brain function is due not only the capabilities of the brain, but also to the quantity and quality of experiences.

5. Research Cont. Neurons = billions of nerve cells in the brain
Experiences cause development between neurons
Neural Pathways = are the links between the neurons that control body functions and thinking.
Links in the brain start at birth and reach their peak in number at about age 10.

6. Structure of the Brain p280
Newborns - Responses are reflexes, not learned responses. Grasping when touched, kicking off blankets
6 month old – Has learned that blankets and socks can be pulled off.
1 year old – Can stack toys, stand up, and walk.

7. Parts of the Brain p281 Cerebrum
Receives information from senses and directs motor activities.
Controls
Speech
Memory
Problem solving
Most of the activities occur in the cortex or cerebral cortex (outer layer)

8. Parts of the Brain p281 Cont.
Thalamus
Connects spinal cord and cerebrum
Controls emotions

9. Parts of the Brain p281 Cont.
Cerebellum
Controls
Muscles
Coordination
Balance
Posture

10. Parts of the Brain p281 Cont.
Spinal Cord
Transmits info from the body to the brain
Transmits info from brain to body
Coordinates activities of the left and right sides of the body
Controls simple reflexes that don’t involve the brain

11. Parts of the Brain p281 Cont.
Brain Stem
Controls involuntary activities
Breathing
Heart rate
Blood pressure

12. Parts of the Brain p281 Cont.
Pituitary Gland
Secretes hormones that regulate:
Growth
Metabolism
Sexual development

13. How the Brain Works p282 Neurons – nerve cells in the brain
You are born with millions of neurons.
You are born with all that you will ever have – none are added during life.
Connected by axons and dendrites
Axons = arms of neurons that transmits information
Coated with myelin

14. How the Brain Works p282 Cont.
Myelin = waxy protein substance that helps transmit the info
Dendrites = arms of neurons that receive information from the axons.
They are like branches reaching out toward each other but never touch.
Synapses = space /gap between dendrites

15. How the Brain Works p282 Cont
Neurotransmitters = chemicals released by the axon to the dendrites
The chemicals look for a dendrite to connect with but can only attach to ones with the right kind of receptors.
The more times the same axon and dendrite connect, the stronger the connection – can send and receive messages faster.
This is the reason repeated sensory input is important.

16. How the Brain Works p282 Cont
Connections in an infant’s brain are increased by a stimulating environment or decreased by a lack of stimulation.
This can be a 25% change in either direction.
Babies love visual stimulation and prefer high contrast images

17. Building the Brain p284
The more dendrites that grow, the more links that develop, and the more neural pathways that grow
The more links / neural pathways, the more brain power
The more brain power, the more it can do and the more flexible it becomes
Ex: The more roads there are, the more places you can go and the more choices you can make.

18. Building the Brain p284
The increase in connections is the result of sensory input
The more interaction the more complex the brain’s “wiring” becomes.

19. How the Brain Becomes Organized
Each child’s brain is organized in a unique way based on their experiences.
As connections grow, a group of neurons link together and become systems of nerve cells that control an action or thinking.
Ex: A group of neurons can work together to control drinking from a cup or holding a spoon. Every time they try, synaptic connections fires together in a sequence. After repetition, they get it down.

20. How the Brain Becomes Organized
Connections are NOT permanent. If you don’t keep repeating them, they diminish.
People forget what they have learned.
Old saying:
“If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
Children build so many connections that they have to lose surplus ones to make room for new ones and getting better at old ones.
Pruning = helps the brain focus on unseful connections,

21. Is the Brain Organized Only Once?
The brain can be reorganized.
If one part is damaged, the person may use other areas to accomplish what the damaged area once controlled.

22. Speeding the Brain’s Work
Myelin coats the axons making it easier to transmit signals.
When born, only the nerves that control basic instincts have the myelin. As they grow, other axons acquire myelin and this continues till about 21.
Axons in the area that controls motor skills, vision, and hearing get the myelin first.

23. Speeding the Brain’s Work
Children who learn slower may not have axons that have yet been coated with myelin. Therefore, the messages are coming slower.
If the coating is lost, it affects how the brain and body function.
People with multiple sclerosis lack myelin.

24. Questions p 287 In what part of the brain is the cerebra cortex?
What abilities does the cerebellum control?
How do dendrites and axons function together in the brain?
How does myelin help axons do their work?
How do repeated experiences help organize the brain?
What happens to synapses throughout life/
What impact on learning results from the rate of the spread of myelin?

25. Intellectual Development During the First Year p 288
Objectives:
List four signs of intellectual growth in infants.
Identify Piaget’s first period of learning and describe specific abilities that babies learn during this period.
Summarize the importance of sensory stimulation to the intellectual development of infants.
Describe the progression of concept development in young children.

26. Intellectual Development During the First Year p 288
Terms
Perception
Attention span
Sensorimotor period
Object permanence
Imaginative play
Symbolic thinking
Concepts

27. Show the PPT from Iowa FCS that has been modified