Critical periods of growth

Critical periods of brain growth and cognitive function in children.

There is evidence that IQ tends to be higher in those who were heavier at birth or who grew taller in childhood and adolescence. Although these findings imply that growth in both foetal and postnatal life influences cognitive performance, little is known about the relative importance of brain growth during different periods of development. We investigated the relationship between brain growth i...

Critical periods and amblyopia.

During the past 20 years, basic science has shown that there are different critical periods for different visual functions during the development of the visual system. Visual functions processed at higher anatomical levels within the system have a later critical period than functions processed at lower levels. This general principle suggests that treatments for amblyopia should be followed in a...

Critical periods, time, and practice

Critical Periods for the Development of Obesity

The mother's nutritional and metabolic environment is critical in determining not only the success of reproduction but also for the future health of the newborn. Maternal genetics, maternal diet during pregnancy, lactation and infant feeding in the early stages of life can have long-term effects on children's health and may predispose to diseases such as obesity. The term "programming“ has been...

Timing of critical periods in development

Critical periods are specific periods in the development of a living organism during which there is an increased sensitivity to external perturbations. Such perturbations result in a developmental trajectory significantly different from what is considered the norm. This study is concerned with the question of whether the presence and timing of a critical period can be predicted from the develop...