During learning, neurons connect to other neurons which become part of a process that connects brain cells together. This ends up creating neural circuits. Neurons continue to rearrange their connections as the brain receives new experiences and information. Learning requires strengthening synapses that are already existing or creating new ones. The more the brain recognizes patterns related to tasks done repeatedly, the faster and more efficient it will become. In brain development, information that is not used often will cause synaptic connections to weaken; therefore synaptic pruning occurs and it eliminates hose connections.
How does the critical period of a person with autism differ with those who do not have autism or any other brain disorders?
The picture shown is a depiction of the connections that are made between neurons in the brain. There are many more connections in the 6 year old brain than in the 14 year old brain. Toddlers are exposed to a ton of new information that they have to store in order to decide which of the data will eventually become automatic by the time they reach adulthood. As the brain continues to develop, some tasks rely on the development of myelin, which helps pass on information from one neuron to the other rapidly. The increase in myelination development happens after age 6. This is why some say that it is easier for kids of this age to learn new languages because they are able to process things faster and make more connections than an adult, since the brain is still rewiring. After some time, the brain begins to “prune” connections so that the processes occurring in the brain are more efficient and specified.
Zarah, I know there has been research about autism being a "critical period" disorder. This would mean that during a critical period of development in a prenatal brain, an imbalance of neurotransmitters caused autism to occur. Continued research about autism may help us better understand the condition. I think that there is critical periods of learning in a child's life where early intervention can have a huge affect on the outcome of the child and their ability to manage their difference. We saw this today with the girl who had half her brain removed. The early intervention allowed for her full recovery.
ReplyDeleteI think that critical periods, as we've been talking about them--with language, etc--that occur during early school years would be ABOUT the same for any human child. As Jessie described above, there is evidence that autism is a result of other critical periods that occur in prenatal development (or perhaps toxins or environmental influence that they might be exposed to during the time).
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