Re: sensitive period in language acquisition

From: Brent Lords
Message: 884
Date: 2000-01-13

>Hi Gerry: Its been 25 years since I got a BA degree in Pysch, or even
done any reading in the field, but I believe the basics haven't changed
that much in the physiology of learning theory.

>>Gerry: Brent, I'm sure you feel confident about your knowledge in
Psych; however I know that basics have changed in this field within the
past few months.

Brent response:
You could be right – as I said, I haven't tried to keep up, beyond a
Nova show here and there (which showed the same old same old) – If so,
maybe you'll let me know where it has gone to.... But what I covered
here wasn't theory- it was basic neural physiology (they measure
membrane osmosis, synaptic connections, neural transmitter
levels,melanin coatings, firing rates and extinctions etc).....really
hard stuff... I would be really bowled over if they reversed
themselves on this. So if you do find something that is substantial –
not the popular psychology quasi-science stuff - I would love to see
it.

> Brent: One of the distinctions between humans and other animals is
the almost total lack of behavioral templates in humans. Behavioral
templates in animals are called instincts, and beyond a fear of
heights, and quick sounds we are without them.

>>Gerry: Please site specific references for your examples, if you
please. I'd be most interested in reviewing the current research.

Sorry Gerry – as I said, its been 25 years. What I didn't sell back to
the bookstore when I went onto my higher degrees, I left behind when I
moved. You're going to have to dig it out yourself. But it won't be
that hard, any basic textbook on Psychology (college psych – not the
popular stuff) should cover the basics on the learning processes we've
discussed here. If you want to get into it deeper go after an
Introductory textbook on the Psychology of Learning. And if your
really a glutton for punishment, get into the physiology of neural
science (Usually called something like Physical Pyschology). Usually
the latter are upper graduate class material –but don't let that
intimidate you -shouldn't have any real trouble with it- its pretty
straight forward, if sometimes tedious... As a shortcut – maybe there
is a Web site that can give you recent citations.

>>And furthermore, I find what you are saying to be out of character
with your previous posts. Gerry

Brent – but Gerry -I haven't posted anything on this subject. – could
you clarify?