Critical Period, Psychological (also known as Critical Periods, Psychological, Period, Psychological Critical): A specific stage in animal and human development during which certain types of behavior normally are shaped and molded for life.

NIH MeSH · D003423Psychiatry and Psychology

Critical Period, Psychological

Also known asCritical Periods, Psychological · Period, Psychological Critical · Psychological Critical Period · Critical Period, Psychology · Critical Periods, Psychology · Period, Psychology Critical

Definition

A specific stage in animal and human development during which certain types of behavior normally are shaped and molded for life.

MeSH classification

  • F02.463.425.209

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Related concepts

Association

A functional relationship between psychological phenomena of such nature that the presence of one tends to evoke the other; also, the proces…

Association Learning

The principle that items experienced together enter into a connection, so that one tends to reinstate the other.

Automatism

Automatic, mechanical, and apparently undirected behavior which is outside of conscious control.

Avoidance Learning

A response to a cue that is instrumental in avoiding a noxious experience.

Conditioning, Classical

Learning that takes place when a conditioned stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioning, Eyelid

Reflex closure of the eyelid occurring as a result of classical conditioning.

Conditioning, Operant

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Conditioning, Psychological

Simple form of learning involving the formation, strengthening, or weakening of an association between a stimulus and a response.

Common questions about Critical Period, Psychological

What does Critical Period, Psychological mean in medicine?
A specific stage in animal and human development during which certain types of behavior normally are shaped and molded for life. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Critical Period, Psychological known by any other names?
Yes. Critical Period, Psychological is also referred to as Critical Periods, Psychological, Period, Psychological Critical, Psychological Critical Period, Critical Period, Psychology in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Critical Period, Psychological sit in the medical classification?
Critical Period, Psychological falls under the broader medical category "Psychiatry and Psychology" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: F02.463.425.209). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Critical Period, Psychological?
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Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D003423) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗