T h e O ntogen y of H u m a n N eu rologic B r a i n F u nc t ions

Brain Stage
Average Time Frame Vision

1
Birth

2
Birth to 3 months
Biocular outline perception

3
36 months
Seeing gross detail, Unified occular movement

4
69 months

5
912 months

6
1218 months
Complete convergence, Identifying simple abstracts Understands many words and phrases

7
1824 months
Reading several words, Identifying complex symbols

8
23 years
Reading phrases, Reading many words Conception of worldly information leading to concept of time & space

9
34 years

10
45 years

11
56 years

12
6 years to peer level
Skills equal to or above peers and consistent with dominant hemisphere Skills equal to or above peers and consistent with dominant hemisphere Skills equal to or above peers and consistent with dominant hemisphere

Pupillary reflex

Appreciation of fine detail

Initial Binocularity

Reading sentences

Reading initial books

Afferent Sensory Pathways

Reading books

Auditory

Startle reflex

Response to threatening sounds, Initial perception of sounds Awareness of temp & discomfort, Early proprioception, Vital tactile
percepti o n

Localization of sound

Appreciation of environmental sounds Proprioceptive ability as related to balance and space, Gnosis
appreciati o n

Understands several single words

Understands basic directions

Conception of gramatical and idiomic language

Conception of sophisticated and abstract language

Sophisticated concept of time & space Sophisticated stereognosis, Sophisticated proprioception

Tactile Highest Level of Skill Mobility

Babinski reflex

Localization of touch

Awareness of third dimension

Initial stereognosis

Concepts of texture
c o n cepti o n

Concepts of size

Concepts of shape

Concepts of solidity

recepti o n

Medulla & Cord

refle x

Pons
vital

Midbrain
mea n i n gful

cortex
u n i q uel y huma n ph y sical a n d i n tellectual s k ills

Run and walk in complete cross pattern Ability to participate in an organized conversation, Proper articulation Spontaneous writing of several words Hop, skip, jump and other sophisticated skills Sophisticated ability to express an abstract thought Spontaneous writing of many words
Skills equal to or above peers and consistent with dominant hemisphere Skills equal to or above peers and consistent with dominant hemisphere Skills equal to or above peers and consistent with dominant hemisphere

Complete movement of extremities

Initial crawling

Functional crawling culminating in a cross pattern

Initial creeping, Assume and maintain quadruped Range of expressive and meaningful sounds

Functional creeping Walk with arms in culminating in a primitive balance cross pattern, role, Free standing, Pull to stand Crusing Several meaningful words however pronounced Primitive use of tools, Initial bimanual function

Walk and run with arms down without pattern

Initial running in cross pattern

Initial walking in cross pattern

Efferent Motor Pathways

Language

Birth cry

Vital sounds

Experimental use of sounds

Word-like sounds

Initial phrases, Many new words

Initial sentences, Many phrases

Structured sentences, Advancing vocabulary Reproducing symbols and words

Manual

Bilateral grasp reflex

Bilateral vital release

Initial prehensile grasp

Mature bilateral prehensile grasp

Bilateral cortical opposition, Unilateral cortical opposition

Bilateral and simultaneous cortical opposition

Sophisticated bimanual skills

Source: Sandler & Brown, 1980 Second ed.