Name
Date
Class
Chapter 9 Intellectual Development of Infants
Section 9.1 Early Brain Development
Study Skills
Review Key Concepts
Directions In the left column, write the titles that match the summaries
provided. Choose from the titles in the list. The first one is completed for you.
Brain Structure
• How to Stimulate Brain Development
in Infants
Neural Pathways
• What Is a Dendrite?
. Learning Through Senses
• How the Brain Becomes Organized
. Parts of the Brain
How to Speed the Brain's Work
What Does an Axon Do?
How Neurons Work
What Is a Synapse?
How Brain Power Increases
Title
Brain Structure
Summary
Neurons in a baby's brain develop neural pathways.
Between dendrites is a tiny gap where messages are
transmitted from one neuron to another.
As connections between dendrites and axons grow stronger,
a group of neurons link together forming a system of nerve
cells that control a certain action.
The more dendrites that grow and the more links that
develop, the more neural pathways are created.
The cerebrum, thalamus, cerebellum, spinal cord, pituitary
gland, and brain stem work together to control body functions.
Connections between neurons transmit instructions from the
cell body to another neuron.
Dendrites receive information from other neurons and pass
information to the nerve cell; the nerve cell sends messages
through axons; neurotransmitters cross the gap to the
dendrite of another nerve cell.
Links form between neurons that "wire" the brain so that it
can control different body functions and thinking processes.
Branchlike features at the end of each axon receive the
messages from other neurons.
Newborns learn about the world through what they see,
hear, taste, and touch.
Keep it simple and natural; match experience to ability level;
provide practice; involve the baby; provide variety.
Provide the child with a stimulating environment and
opportunities to see, hear, smell, and touch new things.
Chapter
The Developing Child Student Activity Workbook Chapter 9

**Title: Brain Structure** 1. **Summary:** - Neurons in a baby's brain develop neural pathways. - Between dendrites is a tiny gap where messages are transmitted from one neuron to another. - As connections between dendrites and axons grow stronger, a group of neurons link together forming a system of nerve cells that control a certain action. - The more dendrites that grow and the more links that develop, the more neural pathways are created. - The cerebrum, thalamus, cerebellum, spinal cord, pituitary gland, and brain stem work together to control body functions. 2. **Summary of Key Concepts:** - Dendrites receive information from other neurons and pass it to the nerve cell. - Neurons transmit instructions from the cell body to another neuron through connections. - Axons send messages to other neurons, and neurotransmitters help in transmitting these messages across the gap to dendrites of other nerve cells. - Links between neurons form a "wiring" in the brain that controls body functions and thinking processes. - Axon terminals, the branchlike features at the end of axons, receive messages from other neurons. 3. **Key Ideas on Stimulating Brain Development in Infants:** - Newborns learn through their senses – what they see, hear, taste, and touch. - To enhance brain development, provide a stimulating environment with opportunities to experience new things through sensory inputs. - Keep interactions simple and natural, matching experiences to the baby's ability level, providing varied experiences, and involving the baby actively in learning. - Practice and exposure to diverse stimuli can help in creating more neural pathways and strengthening brain connections. By understanding and applying these key concepts, caregivers can actively contribute to the intellectual development of infants by stimulating their brain development through appropriate experiences and interactions.