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Synaptic Pruning

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1. What does the text mean when it talks about "synaptic pruning"? Provide an example of "synaptic pruning".

2. What do you know of how play changes according to the age/developmental stage of children?

3. Discuss some environmental factors such as environmental pollution, lack of stimulation, and malnutrition and describe how influence growth.

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Solution Summary

The solution discusses the meaning of synaptic pruning and an example is also presented. How play changes according to the age/developmental stage of children; the influence of some environmental factors such as environmental pollution, lack of stimulation, and malnutrition can influence growth. References included.

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1. What does the text mean when it talks about "synaptic pruning"? Provide an example of "synaptic pruning".

Synaptic pruning occurs during rapid periods of brain growth. At such time, the growth of a stronger, more efficient brain happens as the synapses in the brain that are weaker are being eliminated. In a newborn, the brain neurons develop synapses which transmit information through one another. This growth is uninhibited at first but as the infant becomes a toddler the synapses begin to eliminate to give way for the brain to transmit information more efficiently. The end result of this process is creating a better brain more equipped to absorb and retain knowledge and information. It is thought that synaptic pruning helps the brain transition from childhood to adulthood (from being able to learn and connect easily to having a more settled structure). However, it can focus on a single problem and carry out more complex thoughts.

An example of this is a child who had an accident at the age of 8 and as a result, had a brain injury. At age before 10, if there is a problem like this, an area of the brain can take over the ...

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