Review Questions
Describe the case of Genie. What happened to her? Why is this case important?
Genie was a young girl, and it has been said that around the early age of 20 months that Genie was kept in a backroom tied to a toilet chair. This case was so important because by time Genie was found she could not speak nor communicate like a normal human being. This case just really showed how important infancy and childhood are critical times in brain development.
What have scientists learned about the way that the brain develops in children? Describe how this development happens.
Brain development in infants is influenced by a number of different factors, including nutrition, their genetics, interactions with their parents, physical activity, and other experiences. In the past, scientists believed that children's brains were predetermined to a great extent in terms of how they would develop. However, scientists now know that an infant's experiences help determine how connections are formed and which pathways will develop in the brain. rather than being predetermined, an infant's brain is a work in progress, influenced not only by his or her genetics, but also the surrounding world.
Describe how speech generating devices work. Explain the importance of augmentative communication. speech generating devices work by helping an individual communicate verbally. ACC is so important because it helps individuals produce or comprehend written or spoken language.
Critical Thinking Questions
What do scientists mean when they say that there are critical periods for brain development? Why are these periods important?
When scientist say that there are critical periods for brain development they mean that if a child misses that period they'll be noticeably different from others in the same age group. These periods are important because they’ll need them all throughout life.
What role do parents play in a child's brain development? What are some