For the critical period in language development, see Critical period hypothesis.
For other uses, see window of opportunity.
In developmental psychology and developmental biology, a critical period is a maturational stage in the lifespan of an organism during which the nervous system is especially sensitive to certain environmental stimuli. If, for some reason, the organism does not receive the appropriate stimulus during this "critical period" to learn a given skill or trait, it may be difficult, ultimately less successful, or even impossible, to develop certain associated functions later in life. Functions that are indispensable to an organism's survival, such as vision, are particularly likely to develop during critical periods. "Critical period" also relates to the ability to acquire one's first language. Researchers found that people who passed the "critical period" would not acquire their first language fluently.[1]
Some researchers differentiate between 'strong critical periods' and 'weak critical periods' (also known as 'sensitive' periods)—defining 'weak critical periods' / 'sensitive periods' as more extended periods, after which learning is still possible.[2] Other researchers consider these the same phenomenon.[3]
For example, the critical period for the development of a human child's binocular vision is thought to be between three and eight months, with sensitivity to damage extending up to at least three years of age. Further critical periods have been identified for the development of hearing[4] and the vestibular system.[1]
^Robson AL (2002). "Critical/Sensitive Periods". In Salkind NJ (ed.). Child Development. Gale Virtual Reference Library. New York: Macmillan Reference USA. pp. 101–3.
^Brainard MS, Knudsen EI (May 1998). "Sensitive periods for visual calibration of the auditory space map in the barn owl optic tectum". The Journal of Neuroscience. 18 (10): 3929–42. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.18-10-03929.1998. PMC 6793138. PMID 9570820.
^Hensch TK (2004). "Critical period regulation". Annual Review of Neuroscience. 27: 549–79. doi:10.1146/annurev.neuro.27.070203.144327. PMID 15217343.
^Kral A (September 2013). "Auditory critical periods: a review from system's perspective". Neuroscience. 247: 117–33. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.05.021. PMID 23707979.
In developmental psychology and developmental biology, a criticalperiod is a maturational stage in the lifespan of an organism during which the nervous...
The criticalperiod hypothesis or sensitive period hypothesis claims that there is an ideal time window of brain development to acquire language in a linguistically...
"America's CriticalPeriod" to the era in American history between 1783 and 1789. The phrase was popularized by John Fiske's 1888 book, The CriticalPeriod of...
Critical race theory (CRT) is an interdisciplinary academic field focused on the relationships between social conceptions of race and ethnicity, social...
first language a person has been exposed to from birth or within the criticalperiod. In some countries, the term native language or mother tongue refers...
intelligence occur at either the onset of development, during the criticalperiod, or during old age (see neuroplasticity). Charles Spearman, who coined...
not universally accepted, and is the subject of ongoing debate. The critical-period hypothesis of the linguist Eric Lenneberg states that full native competence...
grammatical knowledge. Researchers concluded that the theory of a criticalperiod was true; Genie was too old to learn how to speak productively, although...
their first language. These views are closely associated with the criticalperiod hypothesis. In acquiring an L2, Hyltenstam found that around the age...
criticalperiod of auditory development, after which period cognitive strategies favor global and relational processing. Proponents of the critical-period...
opportunity or critical window, is a period of time during which some action can be taken that will achieve a desired outcome. Once this period is over, or...
language attrition and the criticalperiod hypothesis. The criticalperiod for language claims that there is an optimal time period for humans to acquire language...
titled Métamorphose de Narcisse, This painting is from Dalí's paranoiac-criticalperiod and depicts his interpretation of the Greek myth of Narcissus. Dalí...
its classical era with the Han dynasty (206 BCE – CE 220), marking a criticalperiod. A term for the Chinese language is still "Han language", and the dominant...
Critical thinking is the analysis of available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments in order to form a judgement by the application of rational...
synaptogenesis. Synaptogenesis is particularly important during an individual's criticalperiod, during which there is a certain degree of synaptic pruning due to...
"Sadiq Ali Thangal Takes Over Leadership of Muslim League at the Most CriticalPeriod of its Existence". OnManorama. Kottayam (Kerala): Malayala Manorama...
adult mice that were tone-reared during auditory criticalperiod. Adult learning and criticalperiod sensory manipulations induce comparable shifts in...
mortality rate in the U.S. is 6.8 per 1,000 live births. Babyhood is a criticalperiod in personality development when the foundations of adult personality...
Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí. This painting is from Dalí's Paranoiac-criticalperiod. Painted using oil on canvas, it contains one of Dalí's famous double...
influences. Two examples of a criticalperiod are the development of binocular vision and linguistic skills in children. The critical periods neuromyth is an...
The Ubaid period (c. 5500–3700 BC) is a prehistoric period of Mesopotamia. The name derives from Tell al-'Ubaid where the earliest large excavation of...
The Uruk period (c. 4000 to 3100 BC; also known as Protoliterate period) existed from the protohistoric Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age period in the history...
fetus as gestation is itself a criticalperiod for an embryo/fetus, though some problems affecting height during this period are resolved by catch-up growth...
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes the postnatal period as the most critical and yet the most neglected phase in the lives of mothers and...
Critical Role is an American web series in which a group of professional voice actors plays Dungeons & Dragons. The show started streaming partway through...