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Baby Brain & Habit Formation
Module 1
Foundations of Infant Brain Architecture
1
Infant vs. Adult Brain: Synaptic Density, Connectivity, and Energy Consumption
Describe how the infant brain differs from the adult brain in synaptic density, connectivity, and energy consumption.
Describe how the infant brain differs from the adult brain in synaptic density, connectivity, and energy consumption.
2
Brain Development: Synaptogenesis & Pruning in Infancy
Explain the processes of synaptogenesis and synaptic pruning in the first two years of life, citing the 'use it or lose it' principle.
Explain the processes of synaptogenesis and synaptic pruning in the first two years of life, citing the 'use it or lose it' principle.
3
Myelination: Brain Circuit Maturation in Infants
Describe the role and timeline of myelination in the sequential maturation of infant brain circuits.
Describe the role and timeline of myelination in the sequential maturation of infant brain circuits.
Module 2
Experience and Brain Plasticity
4
Critical vs. Sensitive Periods: Hubel & Wiesel's Visual Deprivation
Distinguish between critical periods and sensitive periods using Hubel and Wiesel's visual deprivation experiments as a key example.
Distinguish between critical periods and sensitive periods using Hubel and Wiesel's visual deprivation experiments as a key example.
5
Experience-Dependent vs. Experience-Expectant Plasticity
Differentiate between experience-expectant and experience-dependent plasticity as primary mechanisms of brain development.
Differentiate between experience-expectant and experience-dependent plasticity as primary mechanisms of brain development.
6
Sensitive Periods in Development
Identify the key sensitive periods for vision, language, and social-emotional development and explain their significance.
Identify the key sensitive periods for vision, language, and social-emotional development and explain their significance.
Module 3
Mechanisms of Infant Learning and Memory
7
Habituation: Infant Learning and Research Tool
Explain habituation as a form of infant learning and describe its use as a research tool in infant cognition studies.
Explain habituation as a form of infant learning and describe its use as a research tool in infant cognition studies.
8
Rovee-Collier's Paradigm: Infant Memory and Context
Describe Rovee-Collier's mobile conjugate reinforcement paradigm and what it revealed about memory capacity and context-dependency in young infants.
Describe Rovee-Collier's mobile conjugate reinforcement paradigm and what it revealed about memory capacity and context-dependency in young infants.
9
Hippocampal Maturation and Memory Development
Explain how the maturation of the hippocampus supports the transition from implicit to explicit memory.
Explain how the maturation of the hippocampus supports the transition from implicit to explicit memory.
Module 4
The Neuroscience of Habit Formation
10
Reinforcement and Goal-Directed Actions
Connect the principles of reinforcement (e.g., from Rovee-Collier's paradigm) to the initial formation of goal-directed actions.
Connect the principles of reinforcement (e.g., from Rovee-Collier's paradigm) to the initial formation of goal-directed actions.
11
From Goals to Habits: Basal Ganglia and Repetition
Describe the role of the basal ganglia and repetition in transitioning goal-directed actions into stimulus-response habits.
Describe the role of the basal ganglia and repetition in transitioning goal-directed actions into stimulus-response habits.
12
Spotting Early Habits in Babies' Routines
Identify examples of early habit formation in an 8-12 month old's daily routines, such as feeding and sleep cues.
Identify examples of early habit formation in an 8-12 month old's daily routines, such as feeding and sleep cues.
Module 5
The Social Brain: Caregiving and Emotional Development
13
Attachment Theory: From Bowlby to Brains
Describe Bowlby's attachment theory and Ainsworth's 'Strange Situation' experiment, including their neurobiological underpinnings.
Describe Bowlby's attachment theory and Ainsworth's 'Strange Situation' experiment, including their neurobiological underpinnings.
14
Stress, the HPA Axis, and Brain Development
Explain how the HPA axis mediates stress responses and how prolonged stress can affect developing brain architecture.
Explain how the HPA axis mediates stress responses and how prolonged stress can affect developing brain architecture.
15
Serve and Return: Nurturing Brain Development in Infants
Define 'serve and return' interactions and list evidence-based strategies for supporting healthy brain development in an 8-12 month old.
Define 'serve and return' interactions and list evidence-based strategies for supporting healthy brain development in an 8-12 month old.