Identify the changes in the brain that are related to cognitive, emotional and social
development at each of the stages over the life-span
Brain
Rapid brain spurts
High plasticity
Increase size and weight
Lateralization begins
Cognitive
Sustained attention improves
Memory recall emerges
Categorization emerges
Autobiographical emerges
Language emerges
Emotional
Development of basic
emotions
Feelings of others (basic)
Self-conscious emotions
Emotional self-regulation
emerges
Social
Attachment to others
Self as object
Social categories emerge
Empathy emerges
Non-social to parallel play
Early
Childhood
(2-6)
Continued growth
Formation of synapses,
myelination, and
pruning
Lateralization continues
Recall improves
Autobiographical memorymore organized & detailed
Language and
representation skills
improve
Increased emotional
intelligence
Increased emotional selfregulation
Shift to associative &
cooperative play
First friendships develop
Make-believe play
Gender identity emerges
Conscious emerges
Middle
Childhood
(6-11)
Formation of synapses and
synaptic pruning continue
Self conscious emotions
become governed by
personal responsibility
Mixed emotions
Emotional self regulation
improves
Games with rules
Gains in perspective taking
Experimenting: cooperation,
winning.& losing
Peer groups form & peers
acceptance is important
Develop friendships
Adolescence
(12-18)
Frontal lobe growth
Hormonal changes
Increased: myelination &
synaptic pruning
Myelination continues
Dev. of concrete operational
thought
Autobiographical and recall
improve
Information
processing/attention improves
Gains in self-understanding &
vocabulary
Abstract thinking and scientific
reasoning develop
Emotional fluctuate due to
hormonal and social
changes
Abstract reasoning and
memory peeks
Post-formal relativistic thought
Focus on romantic love
Emotions related to various
factors
De-idealization of parents
Move to autonomy
Identity becomes more solid
Gender intensification
Siblings as friends
Romantic partnerships
Parenthood
Diversity to adult lifestyles
Adaption to family dynamics
Possible kinship care
Possible divorce and
remarriage
Sibling contact/support may
decline
Number of friends may
decline
Friendships become selective
Friendships increase in
importance
New relationships form with
grown children &
grandchildren
Infancy &
Toddlerhood
(0-2)
Early
Adulthood
Middle
adulthood
Reduction in weight &
volume of brain
Neuron atrophy
Continued: neuron growth,
plasticity, & myelination
Working memory declines
Practical problem solving
increases
Vocabulary increase
Cognition can be improved
w/training
Emotions & emotional wellbeing related to
bio/psycho/social/cultural
factors
Emotional adaption to
physical changes
Late
adulthood
Reduction in weight &
volume of brain
Atrophy of some neurons
Plasticity, myelination, &
neuronal growth
Possible impaired processing
of context
Attention deficits slowing
mental performance
Decline in explicit memory
Forgetting of remote
memories
Possible increase in vocabulary
Cognition can improve
w/training
Emotions & emotional wellbeing related to
bio/psycho/social/cultural
factors
Social support & social
interaction are important
Enhance emotional
understanding and wellbeing
Emotional reactions may be
more complex and
personalized
(Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2012)