the limited time frame in which an important development or action must occur ( e.g., sexual differentiation).
Specific time during development when a given event will have the greatest impact.
a period in childhood when experience with language produces optimal language acquisition. 332
is that time in development when there is maximum plasticity in the evolving neural system, such that it can be modified by environmental inputs. It is best described in the developing visual system
When the imprinting or development of certain skills takes place, and thus the ideal time to cultivate that skill.
Time during which in a developing organism (kitten, young infant) the nervous system is ready, if given a suitable input, to develop a program provided by its inherited capacity, for instance for vision or language.
an age during which the individual has to develop a skill, or that skill will never be developed
a point in the life span at which an individual is acutely sensitive to the effects of an external stimulus, including a pathogen
a relatively short (compared to the individual's life span) and clearly demarcated period of time in which learning can occur and whatever the animal learns in this period has a permanent and irreversible effect
a specific time during development when a particular event has its greatest consequences
a time slot in development when sensory experience diretc the maturation of neurons and their interconnections within neocortex
a window of opportunity, a limited time during which experiences have a permanent, irreversible effect
a window of opportunity during which the animals are most receptive to the introduction of new stimuli
The time during prenatal development when a structure is vulnerable to damage. 246
This period refers to the years between the end of the American Revolution and the beginning of the new government under the Constitution (1783 to 1789). The nation was governed by the Articles of Confederation during this period, and although many textbooks recount a long list of public ills of that time, it was a period of accomplishment as well.
The period during with a cognitive ability is usually acquired, provided that the required environmental stimulus is present. If it is not, then the chances of acquiring the ability at some other point in time is far lower.
A period in the development of an organism when it is particularly sensitive to certain environmental influences. Outside of this period, the same environmental influences have little effect (e.g., the period during which a duckling can be imprinted). After embryonic development, this phenomenon is rarely all-or-none. As a result, most developmental psychologists prefer the term sensitive period.
A period of time during an organism's development in which the brain is optimally capable of acquiring a specific ability, provided that appropriate environmental stimuli are present. Humans as well as some animals are known to have a critical period during which language is acquired.
A developmental phase in which the brain requires certain environmental input or it will not develop normally. Scientists have documented critical periods for the presence of certain nutrients (e.g., folic acid, iron, protein and calories), for certain types of sensory stimuli (such as vision and speech sounds), and for certain emotional and cognitive experiences (attachment, language exposure). However, there are many mental skills, such as reading, vocabulary size, and the ability to see color, which do not appear to pass through tight critical periods in their development. See also: Windows of Opportunity.
Crucial time periods in a person?s life during which specific events must occur for development to proceed normally.
In general, a critical period is a limited time in which an event can occur, usually to result in some kind of transformation. A "critical period" in developmental psychology and developmental biology is a time in the early stages of an organism's life during which it displays a heightened sensitivity to certain environmental stimuli, and develops in particular ways due to experiences at this time. If the organism does not receive the appropriate stimulus during this "critical period", it may be difficult, or even impossible, to develop some functions later in life.