Chapter 9
Intellectual Development in Infants
Chapter Objectives
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Describe how a baby’s experiences increase brain
function
Explain how the brain becomes organized
List four abilities that show intellectual growth in infants
Identify specific abilities that babies learn during Piaget’s
first period of learning
Name five ways caregivers can encourage learning
Discuss how to choose toys appropriate for babies of
different ages
Chapter 9.1
Early Brain Development
The Structure of the Brain
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A neuron is a nerve cell
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Links between these neurons are formed immediately
Neural pathways are the links that develop between
neurons
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The pathways “wire” the brain so it can control different body
functions and thinking processes
Created quickly
Maximum number of links is reached by age 10
Parts of the Brain
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Each section controls a specific function or job of the
body
One of the most important parts : Cortex
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Part of the brains cerebellum and its growth permits complex
learning
As babies experience more input from the world, they
brains respond by making more connections
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As caregivers hold, play, and talk to an infant, the baby actually
uses these experiences to build the brains capacity
Parts of the Brain: Cerebrum
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Receives information from
senses and motor
activities
Controls speech, memory,
and problem solving
Most activities occur in
the outer layer
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Cerebral cortex (cortex)
Parts of the Brain: Pituitary Gland
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Secretes hormones that
control
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Growth
Metabolism
Sexual Development
Parts of the Brain: Brain Stem
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Controls
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Involuntary activities
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Breathing
Heart rate
Blood pressure
Parts of the Brain: Spinal Cord
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Transmits information
from the body to the
brain and vise versa
Controls simple reflexes
that do not involve the
brain
Parts of the Brain: Cerebellum
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Controls
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Muscular coordination
Balance
Posture
Parts of the Brain: Thalamus
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Relays sensory
information from other
parts of the brain to the
cerebral cortex
How the Brain Works
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Neurons are connected by
axons
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Axons are coated with a
fatty substance called myelin
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An axon is the connection
between neurons that
transmits instructions from
the cell body to another
neuron
Myelin helps transmit
messages
Dendrites branch out each
axon to receive the
electrical messages
How the Brain Works
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Dendrites and axons do
not touch
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A synapse is the tiny gap
between the dendrites
where messages are
transmitted
Neurotransmitter is a
chemical released by the
axon
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Chemicals look for a
dendrite to attach to but
they can only attach to
specific receptors
Developing the Brain
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More pathways give the brain more power
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Gives the brain more flexibility
The increase connection is the direct result of sensory
input
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The more the baby interacts with the world, the more
complex the brain’s “writing” becomes
How the Brain is Organized
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Organization is based on the particular experiences
unique to that child
As connections between dendrites and axons grow
stronger, neurons link together
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They become systems of nerve cells that control certain
groups
Systems of neurons work together to influence how
babies see, hear, think, and remember
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This is how learning takes place
Humans learn new behaviors all their life
How the Brain is Organized
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Connections between
neurons are not permanent
They can be broken when
not used often
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At the same time
connections are being lost,
new ones are being made
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This is called pruning
This is called branching
The branching and pruning
process helps the brain
focus on useful connections
and then acquire more skills
Stimulating Infant Brain Development
Keep it simple and
natural
Avoid pushing the
child
Match experiences
to child’s abilities
Provide variety
but avoid overload
Practice makes
perfect
Actively involve
the baby
Speeding the Brain’s Work
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When a baby is born only
those nerves that control
basic instincts, like nursing,
have myelin coating
Other axons get a coating of
myelin as they child grows
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Process continues until age 20
Myelin is added at different
times to different areas
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Which axon receives the fatty
myelin may explain why some
children have difficulty
learning certain tasks
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Myelin is crucial to the
speed in which nerves
function
Multiple sclerosis is a disease
in which the absence of
myelin plays a role
Chapter 9.2
Intellectual Development During the First Year