What is a "Critical Period" in Brain Development? - Zero to Three

Pruning or selection of active neural circuits takes place throughout life, but is far more common in early childhood. ... Many of the same critical periods ... Skiptomaincontent Skiptofooter Dowhatyoulove.Lovewhatyoudo.ZEROTOTHREEishiring. 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CriticalCompetenciesforInfant-ToddlerEducators BookstoHelpChildrenManageBigEmotions ResourcestoEmpowerParents VirtualEventsCalendar VirtualTrainingInstitutes Mathematica–WeGrowTogetherFieldTestReport ViewAll BrowsebyType Everything AdvocacyTools Español MembershipExclusive ParentingResources PolicyResources ProfessionalResources StateInitiatives WorkforceDevelopment ZEROTOTHREEJournal SupportOurWork Back SupportUs MakeaDonation WaystoGive BecomeaMember GetInvolved GetUpdates AdvocateforBabiesandToddlers JointhePolicyNetwork UpcomingEvents Bookstore Careers LearningCenter SignIn BecomeaMember Donate Bookstore UpcomingEvents LearningCenter Search Submit SignIn BecomeaMember Donate Home Resources&Services ProfessionalResource Whatisa"CriticalPeriod"inBrainDevelopment? Enespañol Pruningorselectionofactiveneuralcircuitstakesplacethroughoutlife,butisfarmorecommoninearlychildhood. Share ShareonTwitter ShareonFacebook ShareonLinkedIn Shareviaemail Print Animalstudieshaveshownthattherearecertainwindowsoftimeduringwhichtheyoungareespeciallysensitivetotheirenvironment:newbornmicemustexperiencenormalwhiskersensationinthefirstfewdaysoflifeortheywilldevelopabnormaltactilesensitivityinthefaceregion;catsmustbeallowednormalvisualinputduringthefirstthreemonthsortheirvisionwillbepermanentlyimpaired;andmonkeysneedconsistentsocialcontactduringthefirstsixmonthsortheywillendupextremelyemotionallydisturbed.Manyofthesamecriticalperiodsappeartoholdforhumandevelopment,althoughwearelesscertainabouttheirexactlength.Thus,babiesalsorequirenormalvisualinputortheymaysufferpermanentimpairment;childrenbornwithcrossedor“lazy”eyeswillfailtodevelopfullacuityanddepthperceptioniftheproblemisnotpromptlycorrected.Languageskillsdependcriticallyonverbalinput(orsignlanguage,forbabieswithhearingimpairments)inthefirstfewyearsorcertainskills,particularlygrammarandpronunciation,maybepermanentlyimpacted.Thecriticalperiodforlanguage-learningbeginstoclosearoundfiveyearsofageandendsaroundpuberty.Thisiswhyindividualswholearnanewlanguageafterpubertyalmostalwaysspeakitwithaforeignaccent. Readmoreabout: BrainDevelopment Backtotop ExploremorefromFrequentlyAskedQuestionsAboutBrainDevelopment Article | Disponibleenespañol Aretherecriticalperiodsinthedevelopmentofeverybrainfunction? Article | Disponibleenespañol Howdoesnutritionaffectthedevelopingbrain? Article Whichplaysamoreimportantroleinbraindevelopment,nature(genes)ornurture(environment)? BecomeaMember Readytojoin?Connecttoday. LearnMoreaboutmembership SupportZEROTOTHREE Yourgifthelpsensurethatallbabiesandtoddlershaveastrongstartinlife. Donate BecomeanAdvocate Becomeabigvoiceforlittlekidsbyjoiningourpolicynetwork. TakeAction ZEROTOTHREE SignIn BecomeaMember Bookstore Blog Media ZEROTOTHREE 2445MStreetNW Suite600 Washington,DC20037 (202)638-1144 (800)899-4301 AboutUs OurWork OurTeam Media Careers ContactUs Reprints&Permissions ExploreOurTopics EarlyDevelopment&Well-Being EarlyLearning Parenting Policy&Advocacy Resources&Services MemberResourcesandSavings AnnualConference2021-SavetheDate! 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