User:Emackin/sandbox

Inspired by the ideas of Noam Chomsky, Lenneberg began exploring language learning and brain development. He came up with a "Critical Period Hypothesis", which stated that there was a certain time in a persons development where their brain is more plastic, allowing more information to be absorbed. Once that moment has passed it is much harder to retain information such as a a language. There are 5 key periods that are used to define a critical period. 1. Period of peak plasticity 2. Cut-off point (ends abruptly) 3. Occur early in development (occurs before age 5) 4. Brief (is only a short period of time, say a few months) 5. Deprivation has permanent and irreversible effects ("use it or lose it" concept. what is learned, or not learned, will not be forgotten (or remembered))

Although some of Eric's predictions were wrong regarding the timeline of Critical periods, he got the main idea correct. Critical periods have also been tested on animals as well, and the experiments showed to prove his hypothesis correct.