An older feral child will have more difficulty adjusting to normal society than a younger feral child for these reasons: 1. Older feral children have spent more time developing neural pathways related to their feral lifestyle without human contact or learning social norms. These pathways are stronger than pathways for learning social skills. 2. Younger feral children have fewer established neural pathways so it is easier for them to form new pathways related to learning social behaviors and norms. 3. The longer a feral child is isolated without human contact, the harder it is for them to learn skills like language and social behaviors due to stronger, established non-social pathways in their brain versus weaker pathways for these skills.

1. Why do you think an older feral child will have more difficulty adjusting to “normal” society than a younger feral child?

2. Human Learning: Pathways in the brain Some pathways have strong links Some pathways have weak links Example: learning an instrument First time the pathway is new and the link is not strong The more you practice the stronger the connection between the nerves is

3. Making notes You have three minutes under each of the key headings to make as many key points as you can remember. Feel free to include key words and diagrams Do not worry about whether your work is neat or not – you don’t have time Synapses Conditioning Learning

4. Learning New Skills Write your name upside down in the back of your exercise book Write your name upside down in the back of your exercise book (make sure your writing is no higher than one line high) Do this again and again until you can do it easily (no more than five minutes) How does your last attempt compare to the first and why?

5. New Neuron Pathways

6. Memory Activity Listen carefully to the story – you will be asked to repeat one piece of information from it What was the telephone number I read out?

7. Making notes Learning new skills Memory

8. Homework Plan the outline for a Horizons documentary on Feral Children Find one example of a feral child who was assimilated into society Find one example of a feral child who failed to assimilate into society Explain the science of learning, explain why older feral children have a harder time learning to be “normal” Use and explain the key words neuron, feral, repetition and pathways http://biology11o.pbworks.com Due next lesson