Sensitive period/critical period and experience-expectant process/experience de-

[Felicity Wishes]

dependant learning. 
Can someone please explain these terms to me?

[yearningforsimplicity]

Sensitive period: A time period within an organism's life when they are extremely receptive to learning something, moreso than at any other time in their life. E.g. babies and toddlers are very receptive to learning language and acquiring vocabulary

Critical period: A time period within an organism's life where the learning must occur during a limited and specific time to ensure that the organism can acquire a particular kind of skill. It is CRITICAL for the organism to make sure they are exposed to the skill that has to be learnt within this period. E.g. Some birds need to hear the highly complex song of their mother (before they become sexually matured) - this is to ensure that they can develop fluency in singing later on and attract a mate. Also, some species of geese must IMPRINT on some mother figure of some sort within 36 hours of hatching - this means that if the goose sees a human within this period, it'll follow them around thinking it's their mother haha

Experience-expectant learning: In this type of learning, the brain EXPECTS that it will be exposed to some form of stimuli (visual/auditory, etc) and that this exposure will cause the brain to become "rewired" - in the sense that a new neural pathway will be established. Depending on what stimuli you're exposed to, the brain will develop the corresponding systems. E.g. if you're exposed to pictures, new neural pathways will sprout up and your visual systems will develop. Since experience expectant learning is focused on developing systems in the body, you'll see a lot of this type of learning especially in the early years of life & around the 'sensitive periods' when children are especially receptive to learning.

Experience-dependent learning: In this type of learning, the brain DOESN'T EXPECT any learning to occur - i.e. experience dependent learning usually includes learning of additional skills (and NOT essential learning that is required to develop systems of our body like in experience-expectant learning). Also, because experience-dependent learning isn't concerned with developing bodily systems through learning and exposure to stimuli, it's safe to say that experience-dependent learning is especially prevalent throughout all stages of lifespan. E.g. if a person observes their mother cooking and learns to cook as a result of that experience, we call it experience dependent learning

[Felicity Wishes]

^^^ Thank you so much, that helped a bunch because my teacher had the definitions switched in the notes and I was extremely confused. Really appreciated.