Assignment task: Watch the video and answer the questions.
YouTube Video: Born to Learn
1. Pruning: Why does the developing brain overproduce neurons and then prune them back? How does this benefit us?
2. Vulnerability: Why is early childhood such a vulnerable period for humans? Specifically, what brain characteristics make us so vulnerable to the influences of our environment?
3. Open vs culture-bound brains: Why does Dr. Kuhl call babies "universal citizens of the world", compared to adults?" What does it mean to have a culture-bound brain?
4. Social drive to learn: Based on the research in the video, do babies learn better in person or by watching videos? Why?
5. Parentese: What is "parentese"? According to the research findings, how does it affect language development?