Please answer the following questions.

Define transient exuberance and pruning.  Discuss why both phenomena are crucial to brain development and the consequences if these phenomena don’t occur normally.
What is the difference between experience-expectant and experience-dependent brain functions?  Explain how these functions differ and how important each one is for brain development.  Give at least one example of each.
Explain how early nurturing experiences by animal and human caregivers “sculpts” the brain influencing the ability to cope with stress and furthers cognitive development.  Discuss how nurturing helps the organism cope with stress. Provide an example, one for animal babies and one for human babies. 
What should caregivers remember about brain development when an infant cries?  What should parents never do when an infant cries and why not?

EXTRA CREDIT QUESTION- OPTIONAL.  Explain how nurturing furthers cognitive development in animal babies and human babies.  Provide one example for each organism (i.e., one for animal babies and one for human babies.  HINT! In this case, nurturing refers to cognitive stimulation and addresses cognitive development, not ability to cope with stress (10 points).
The assignment (not including the extra credit question) is worth 44 points; with the extra credit question its worth 54 points.  Each question is worth 10 points.  The remaining 4 points are allocated as follows: 2 points for submission by due date and 2 points for a well written submission.  Word count for each question should be at least 70-90 words. Each question that does not meet the word count will lose 1 point. Extra points (beyond those awarded for the extra credit question) will be awarded for a very comprehensive response or one that goes beyond just answering the questions.  

Read each question carefully and answer the question asked, not some other question. Most questions have more than one part; be sure to answer every part of each question.  Points will be deducted if a part of a question is left unanswered.

Use your textbook and power points as resources.  All responses must be written in your own words.  If I realize you have copied from the book I will give you a zero for the assignment.  All responses must be on Blackboard; please do NOT send them to me as an attachment.

The assignment is due on October 12th by 11:59