Brain complexity: baby brains under study (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, April 21, 2020, 19:26 (1677 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: We disagree about the blank slate concept of baby brains. My view is they are a blank slate before any new experience, but have an inherited background of tendencies for types of personality development. dhw's view was much more strict, noting that if the brain arrived with tendencies, it couldn't be called blank. A lot of semantic nothingness debate.

QUOTES: These neurophysiological measures were used to assess error-related negativity (ERN), which is a negative dip in the electrical signal recorded from the brain that occurs following incorrect responses on computerized tasks.

This study highlights the enduring nature of early temperament on adult outcomes and suggests that neurophysiological markers such as error-related negativity may help identify individuals most at risk for developing internalizing psychopathology in adulthood.

dhw: If the neurophysiological markers are present at birth, I don’t see how you can call the brain a blank at birth. It was you who used the word in the first place. I agree that it’s a nothingness debate. Quite clearly the brain is not a blank at birth.

We still take different views of blank slate, with no real difference.