Investigating hierarchical critical periods in human neurodevelopment

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Human Neurobiology

Background:

• Animal studies reveal "critical periods" in primary cortices for sensory development.
• Human critical periods are hypothesized to occur during childhood and adolescence.
• These periods are thought to unfold hierarchically across cortical regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine neural, environmental, and behavioral evidence for hierarchical critical periods in human development.
• To synthesize research on differential environmental sensitivity across cortical regions.

Main Methods:

• Review of neuroimaging studies on in vivo correlates of critical period plasticity.
• Synthesis of research on environmental sensitivity in lower-order and higher-order cortical regions.

Main Results:

• Evidence supports the existence of hierarchical critical periods in the human brain.
• Lower-order and higher-order cortical regions show differential sensitivity to environmental influences during development.

Conclusions:

• The field is poised to investigate the precise nature, timing, and consequences of human critical periods.
• Understanding critical periods is relevant for youth psychiatric risk and age-specific interventions.
• Identifying critical periods can inform environmental enrichment strategies for healthy development and resilience.