Human Development Unit 2 Test PDF

Human Development Unit 2 Test Notes to Study The Human Brain ➔ Average brain weight is 3Lbs. ➔ 85% of the brain is the cerebrum, with 60% being fat and 75% being water. ➔ The brain has 100 billion neurons, with 250,000 neurons created per minute in early pregnancy. ➔ The cerebrum...

Human Development Unit 2 Test Notes to Study The Human Brain ➔ Average brain weight is 3Lbs. ➔ 85% of the brain is the cerebrum, with 60% being fat and 75% being water. ➔ The brain has 100 billion neurons, with 250,000 neurons created per minute in early pregnancy. ➔ The cerebrum: Largest part of the brain, responsible for problem-solving, controlling voluntary muscles, memory, intelligence, personality, emotion, speech, feeling, and movement. ➔ Cerebellum: Part of the cerebrum, divided into two halves, focusing on analytical/logical thinking and abstract/creative thinking. ➔ Most basic part of the brain, controlling life essential functions like breathing, digestion, eliminating waste, sleeping, and body temperature. ➔ Medulla Oblongata: Merges with the spinal cord, regulating vital functions like heartbeat, breathing, swallowing, and vomiting. ➔ The brain sits inside the skull, protecting it from physical damage. ➔ The cranium, made up of 8 fused bones, surrounds the brain. Parts of the Brain ➔ Thalamus: Interprets sensory information and determines whether something is good or bad. ➔ Hypothalamus: Regulates body temperature, monitors hormone levels, blood pressure, glucose levels, and regulates thirst, appetite, and sleep. ➔ Amygdala: Plays a role in aggression, eating, drinking, sexual behaviors, and basic emotional survival. ➔ Hippocampus: Processes new memories for long-term storage and is among the first functions to falter in Alzheimer's. Lobes of the Brain ➔ Frontal Lobe: Associated with reasoning, planning, speech, movement, emotions, and problem-solving. ➔ Temporal Lobe: Associated with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli, memory, and speech. ➔ Parietal Lobe: Upper part of the cortex, associated with movement, orientation, recognition, perception of stimuli. ➔ Occipital Lobe: Associated with visual processing. The Neuron ➔ Neurons, approximately 100 billion brain cells, are nerve cells that send and receive electrical signals over long distances. ➔ They are known as the on/off switch and can be in a resting state (off) or shooting an electrical impulse down a wire (on). ➔ The structure of a neuron includes dendrites, cell body, axon, myelin sheath, axon terminals, nucleus, and synapses.  ➔ Neurotransmitters are chemicals released by a transmitting neuron at the synapse and can affect the activity of a receiving neuron. ➔ Examples of neurotransmitters include serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, GABA, and norepinephrine. ➔ Neurons communicate through dendrites, cell body, axons, and neurotransmitters. ➔ Neurons are pathways in the brain, with stronger connections leading to more pathways. ➔ Neurons control specific actions or thinking tasks, and their use or loss can lead to their death. What can go wrong with the Brain Brain Tumors: ➔ Causes swelling due to overgrown tissue. ➔ Can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). ➔ Can be removed with surgery. Headaches: ➔ Tension Headache: Common type caused by muscle tension in the head, neck, and shoulders. ➔ Migraine Headache: Intense, recurring headache with unclear cause. ➔ Cluster Headache: Less common but most severe, characterized by intense, throbbing pain. Meningitis and Encephalitis: ➔ Infections of the brain and spinal cord caused by bacteria or viruses. ➔ Meningitis: Inflammation of brain and spinal cord coverings. ➔ Encephalitis: Inflammation of brain tissue. Mental Illness: ➔ Problems in thinking and function linked to brain structural or chemical problems. ➔ Brain injuries and chronic drug or alcohol abuse can trigger mental illnesses. ➔ Mental disorders increase dependence on others' help and care, leading to loss of human potential and suffering. ➔ Despite mental health disorders being a major concern, older adults do not have a higher incidence of mental disorders than younger adults. ➔ Head Injuries: ➔ Categorized into external (usually scalp) and internal (skull, blood vessels, or brain). ➔ Concussions: Temporary loss of normal brain function. Epilepsy: ➔ Physical condition characterized by sudden, brief changes in brain function. ➔ Causes can range from brain tumors, stroke, head trauma, infection, poisoning. ➔ Triggers include stress, poor nutrition, missed medication, flickering lights, illness, lack of sleep, anger/worry/fear, and heat. ➔ Treatment includes long-term drug therapy or surgery. Depression ➔ Major depression is a mood disorder characterized by deep unhappiness, demoralization, self-derogation, and boredom.  ➔ Predictors include earlier depressive symptoms, poor health, loss events, and low social support. ➔ Depression is treatable in both young and older adults. Dementia ➔ A neurological disorder characterized by deterioration of mental functioning. ➔ Dementia patients often lose the ability to care for themselves and recognize familiar surroundings. Alzheimer’s Disease ➔ The most common form of dementia, characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and physical functioning. Parkinson’s Disease ➔ A chronic, progressive disease characterized by muscle tremors, slowing of movement, and partial facial paralysis. ➔ Triggered by degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Important Influences on the Brain ➔ Drug use and abuse during pregnancy have no positive effects on fetal development, and abstinence is the best prevention. Influences on Brain Development Before Birth ➔ Nutrition: Adequate levels of folic acid, iron, calcium, and protein are critical for brain development. ➔ Avoiding Alcohol & Cigarettes: Consumption of alcohol and cigarettes can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), birth defects, and low birth weight. ➔ Avoiding Chemicals & Radiation: Exposure to harmful chemicals and radiation can harm fetal brain development. ➔ Avoiding Infections: Preventing contact with Rubella, Varicella Virus, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Toxoplasmosis, and some sexually transmitted diseases can pose a significant risk to brain formation and wiring. ➔ Practice Strict Hygiene: Regular hand washing, avoiding contact with sick friends/co-workers, and sharing food or drinks with others can prevent the spread of germs and disease. ➔ Avoiding Stress: Pregnant women should learn to relax to prevent stressing the fetus. ➔ Exercise: Adequate levels of exercise are important to maintain overall health and prepare muscles for childbirth. ➔ Avoiding Unnecessary Medications: Ensure medications are taken with doctor’s approval and read labels completely. ➔ Receiving Regular Medical Care: As soon as pregnancy is suspected, start receiving regular medical care to provide the best possible outcome for the pregnancy. The Effects of Drug Use on a Developing Fetus ➔ Alcohol: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) are 100% preventable with no alcohol consumption during pregnancy. ➔ Cocaine: Symptoms include decreased size, increased risk of placenta rupture, premature birth, increased fetal heart rate & blood pressure, cerebral hemorrhaging, heart deformities, poor visual processing, abnormal sleep patterns, tremors, poor feeding  habits, transient nervous system irritability, muscle spasms, impaired sucking response, kidney and breathing difficulties, miscarriage, stillbirth, death. ➔ Marijuana: Symptoms include premature birth, small birth size, delayed development, immature central nervous system, suspected craniofacial deformities, poor visual tracking, increased startle response, behavioral disorders, decreased tissue oxygenation, breathing impairments, and miscarriages. ➔ Heroin: Symptoms include diminished head circumference, lower birth weight and body length, premature births, stillbirths, miscarriages, breathing difficulties, and intracranial bleeding. ➔ Methadone: Symptoms include poorer fine and gross motor coordination and cognitive processing capabilities. Brain Development in Childhood/Later Life Physical Development: ➔ Early Childhood: Gains 2-3 kg a year, decreases each year. ➔ Growth averages 6 cm, decreases each year. ➔ Body lengthens and the children slim down. ➔ Physical changes vary due to hereditary and environmental factors. Middle to Late Childhood: Slow body growth during elementary years. Weight increase due to skeletal, muscular changes, organ size. Muscle mass increases, “baby” fat decreases. Preparation for puberty and adolescence. Brain Development: ➔ Brain growth slows down by age 6. ➔ Increase in fatty tissue around axons causes increase in brain size (MYELINATION). ➔ Brain maturation allows for language development, making sense of letters and numbers, words, association of objects etc. ➔ Most rapid brain growth takes place in the frontal lobe from 3- 6 years of age. Motor Development: ➔ Gross Motor Skills: Age 3: Pride and accomplishment in movements. ➔ Adventurous and athletic movements: Age 4: Daring and adventurous movement. ➔ Fine Motor Skills: Age 3 clumsy, not precise ➔ Middle to Late Childhood: Smooth and more coordinated motor development. Health Concerns: ➔ Early Childhood: Vaccinations, cancer, birth defects, unintentional injuries, smoking homes, low-income families/poverty/Aboriginal. ➔ Middle to Late Childhood: Unbalanced diets, obesity, dieting, accidents or injuries, cancer. All articles on the Brain The Myth of Pink and Blue Brains https://orbit.texthelp.com/?file=https://drive.google.com/uc?id=19rj1nKmIF8NvEs4QBjJL yYUGedJ0CTan&export=download&filename=Attachment:%20PDF:%20Article-The%20M yth%20of%20Pink%20and%20Blue%20Brains.pdf&ClassroomRetUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fcl assroom.google.com%2Fw%2FNzA1NDI3NjYzNzE4%2Ftc%2FNzA2OTEzNTMxNDk2  ➔ Neuroscientists have identified few reliable differences between boys' and girls' brains. ➔ Boys' brains are about 10% larger and grow later during puberty, but these differences are related to physical maturation. ➔ There are few clear-cut differences in neural structures, brain activity, or neurochemistry between boys and girls. ➔ Even in adulthood, the differences between male and female brains are small, with more overlap than differences between the average brain of each gender. ➔ There are striking gender gaps in academic performance, with girls outperforming boys in reading and boys outscoring girls in math since 1971. ➔ Early biases appear to be programmed by prenatal hormone exposure or sex-specific gene expression. ➔ Parental treatment magnifies these differences, contributing to each gender’s well-known toy preferences. ➔ To tackle academic gaps, we must start early, nurture skills and attitudes, challenge gender stereotypes, appreciate the range of intelligences, strengthen spatial awareness, engage boys, recruit boys into nonathletic extracurricular activities, bring more men into the classroom, treat teacher bias seriously, and recognize the influence of culture, attitudes, and practices on boy-girl academic gaps. Fertile Minds: https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,985854-10,00.html ➔ Early experience is crucial for brain development, with trillions of connections forming and being pruned. ➔ Lack of stimulating environment can lead to smaller brain sizes and fewer synapses. ➔ Parents and policymakers should focus on hands-on parenting and stimulating experiences for infants. ➔ Preschool programs aimed at boosting brain power in impoverished households are urgently needed. ➔ The brain is malleable during the first years of life, allowing for recovery from strokes or injuries. ➔ Genes and experience shape brain development, with synapse formation peaking around age two. ➔ The brain's growth spurt ends around age 10, with a shift towards preserving synapses transformed by experience. ➔ The brain's plasticity declines by adolescence, but its power increases. ➔ Early experiences shape neural activity, leading to patterns in the brain that determine talents and tendencies. The Wild World of a Teen Brain: https://orbit.texthelp.com/?file=https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1z2llTdct4C6RAmbWeJU C9cZKaT-RVpQ1&export=download&filename=Attachment:%20PDF:%20ARTICLE%20-% 20The%20Wild%20World%20of%20a%20Teen%20Brain.pdf&ClassroomRetUrl=https%3A %2F%2Fclassroom.google.com%2Fw%2FNzA1NDI3NjYzNzE4%2Ftc%2FNzA2OTEzNTMx NDk2 ➔ Discusses the unique characteristics and challenges of adolescent brain development.  ➔ Highlights rapid changes in areas responsible for emotional regulation, impulse control, and decision-making. ➔ Highlights the vulnerability of the teenage brain to stress and substance abuse. ➔ Stress and substance abuse can have long-lasting effects on its development. ➔ Emphasizes understanding these brain changes to foster better communication and supportive environments. ➔ Uses research on brain regions like the prefrontal cortex and limbic system to explain why teens often behave unpredictably. What makes teens tick: https://orbit.texthelp.com/?file=https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1OO-9m4WGHT2xYUyfQt efPzEkAFIdPib6&export=download&filename=Attachment:%20PDF:%20What%20makes %20teens%20tick%20article.pdf&ClassroomRetUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fclassroom.google. com%2Fw%2FNzA1NDI3NjYzNzE4%2Ftc%2FNzA2OTEzNTMxNDk2 ➔ The study, led by Dr. Jay Giedd, uses MRI scans to track brain development in children and adolescents. ➔ The brain is believed to be largely developed by the age of 12, but structural changes occur well past puberty, potentially causing adolescent behaviors like emotional outbursts and risk-taking. ➔ Giedd's focus has shifted to studying twins to understand the influences of nature and nurture on brain development. ➔ The brain develops in stages, with some regions reaching maturity earliest in the back of the brain that mediates direct contact with the environment. ➔ Hormones, particularly adrenal gland-release hormones, are active in the emotional center during puberty, contributing to intense emotions and unpredictable behavior. ➔ The brain regions that control risky behavior are still developing during adolescence, contributing to vulnerability to risky behaviors. ➔ Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used to connect adolescent behavior patterns to their evolving brain structure. Beautiful Brains: https://wp.cune.edu/twokingdoms2/files/2016/12/Psycholgy-Cognition-Beautiful-Brains.p df ➔ Discusses the evolutionary perspective on teenage behavior, focusing on the development of the brain. ➔ Highlights the historical portrayal of teenagers as troublesome, with Aristotle and Shakespeare describing them as "heated by Nature as drunken men by wine." ➔ Brain imaging technology reveals that the brain continues to develop throughout adolescence, resulting in a more efficient and faster brain. ➔ However, brain imaging does not provide a complete explanation for teenage behavior. ➔ The adaptive-adolescent story views the teenage brain as sensitive and adaptable, aligning with natural selection. ➔ The adaptive-adolescent story emphasizes broader traits such as love of thrill and risk-taking, which can lead to dangerous behaviors but also generate positive outcomes.  ➔ The article challenges the conventional view of teenagers as works in progress with immature brains, suggesting that teenage behavior can be understood as adaptive traits selected for thousands of generations. Important Terminology Corpus callosum The corpus callosum, a vital nerve bundle connecting brain hemispheres, influences cognitive and emotional functioning throughout life, maturing in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Hypothalamus The hypothalamus, a vital brain component, regulates growth, mood, metabolism, and development, impacting early childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and older adulthood, potentially affecting temperature, sleep, and cognitive function. Neuron Neurons, vital for transmitting information, undergo rapid growth in early childhood, synaptic pruning, and adult development, potentially leading to cognitive and physical challenges as we age. Encephalitis Encephalitis, a viral brain inflammation, can cause cognitive delays, emotional changes, career challenges, and increased mental health risks, necessitating early intervention for optimal development. Cerebrum The cerebrum, the brain's largest part, is crucial for language, memory, and learning abilities, but its gradual decline in adulthood can lead to cognitive changes and neurodegenerative diseases. Pituitary gland The pituitary gland plays a crucial role in human development, regulating growth hormones, thyroid function, and sex hormone production, but its activity decreases with age, potentially leading to disorders. Midbrain The midbrain, a crucial part of the brain, influences developmental stages, motor control, sensory integration, emotional and cognitive development, and changes its structure as the brain matures. Seizures Seizures, neurological events, affect brain function, developmental stages, and cognitive growth. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to minimize risks and improve quality of life. Pons The pons, a brainstem part, is crucial for human development, influencing motor control, sensory analysis, and communication. Changes can lead to sleep disorders and motor skills difficulties. Cerebellum The cerebellum, crucial for motor control and balance, undergoes significant changes throughout human development. As individuals age, it may decline, with neurodegenerative diseases exacerbated. Brain stem The brainstem, connecting the spinal cord, regulates essential functions like heartbeat, breathing, digestion, and reflexes. As we age, it undergoes changes, maintaining its critical functions. Head injuries Traumatic brain injuries significantly impact human development from childhood to adulthood, causing cognitive delays, speech and language disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions in the adult population. Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters, crucial chemical messengers in the brain, shape thoughts, emotions, and behavior throughout life, influencing prenatal development, adolescence, adulthood, and aging, with decline affecting cognitive abilities. Amygdala The amygdala, a temporal lobe nucleus, plays a crucial role in emotional processing, memory formation, and regulation throughout human development, influencing social interactions and stress management. Epilepsy Epilepsy, a neurological disorder causing recurrent seizures, impacts cognitive, motor, emotional, and professional life. Proper medical care and adaptations can help individuals lead fulfilling lives. Pruning Pruning, a crucial process in childhood and adolescence, eliminates excess neural connections, influencing cognitive, emotional, and social development, and disruptions can lead to developmental or mental health conditions. Cortex The cortex, the outermost layer of the brain, is crucial for human development, undergoing rapid growth in childhood, significant adolescence, and slow maturation in adulthood. Dendrites Dendrites, tree-like brain structures, are crucial for growth, adaptation, and information processing, forming connections during infancy, adolescence, and declining as people age. Cell body The cell body, also known as the soma, is a vital component of the human brain, responsible for metabolic activities, learning, memory, neuroplasticity, and aging. Axon An axon, a nerve cell's projection, is vital for brain development and communication, growing and developing throughout life, influencing motor control and thought processes. Myelin sheath The myelin sheath, a crucial fatty layer surrounding the brain and spinal cord, supports cognitive, motor, and emotional functions, and can be preserved by lifestyle factors. Axon terminals Axon terminals, or synaptic terminals, are crucial for brain development, particularly in early childhood and adolescence, forming connections, regulating emotions, and maintaining connections for cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Frontal lobe The frontal lobe, located in the front of each hemisphere, is crucial for decision-making, problem-solving, emotional regulation, impulse control, social behavior, and planning in early childhood and adolescence. Parietal lobe The parietal lobe, located in the skull, is essential for sensory processing, spatial navigation, motor skills, and mathematical reasoning, but may experience age-related changes in adulthood. Temporal lobe The temporal lobe is essential for human development, processing auditory information, understanding language, memory formation, and emotion regulation, evolving across life stages and vulnerable to age-related changes. Occipital lobe The occipital lobe, a part of the cerebral cortex, is crucial for visual processing, social development, learning, memory, and decision-making, but may experience declines as adults. Pruning Pruning, a brain process in early childhood and adolescence, enhances efficiency by removing unused neural connections, while slower pruning in adulthood supports higher cognitive functions and social skills. Oxytocin Oxytocin is a vital hormone in human development, influencing social bonding, emotional regulation, and reproductive functions, fostering secure attachments, empathy, trust, and prosocial behaviors. Gray matter Gray matter, a crucial brain component, aids in processing information, movement, and emotions, increasing rapidly in childhood and declining as the brain refines. White matter White matter, a vital part of human development, plays a crucial role in cognitive abilities, emotional regulation, and decision-making, with neuroplasticity potentially slowing its decline in adulthood. Wiring Wiring is the brain's continuous process of forming and strengthening connections between neurons, essential for learning, thinking, and response, occurring rapidly in early childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. “Use it or lose it principle” The "Use it or lose it" principle emphasizes regular activity to strengthen brain connections, cognitive abilities, and prevent cognitive decline, promoting brain health throughout human development.