[Verse 1] In the cradle of the mind, plasticity runs wild and free Neural pathways dance and wind, rewiring endlessly But the clock begins to tick as inhibition starts to grow Parvalbumin cells get thick, and the learning windows close [Chorus] Critical periods rise and fall like tides upon the shore Phonetic gates slam shut before your first birthday and more Perineuronal nets crystallize, myelination locks the doors What was fluid now ossifies, plasticity no more The substrate hardens, connections freeze Learning shifts from flow to squeeze [Verse 2] Lenneberg saw the truth unfold, sensitive periods reign supreme Native sounds take hold while foreign phonemes slip the scheme Fast-spiking interneurons mature, excitation-inhibition tight The balance shifts to make secure what once was loose and light [Chorus] Critical periods rise and fall like tides upon the shore Phonetic gates slam shut before your first birthday and more Perineuronal nets crystallize, myelination locks the doors What was fluid now ossifies, plasticity no more The substrate hardens, connections freeze Learning shifts from flow to squeeze [Verse 3] Johnson Newport showed the slide, age of first exposure tells the tale Grammar's window opens wide but ultimate attainment will pale Extracellular matrix weaves latticed cages round each cell Molecular brakes that never leave, stabilizing what we know well [Verse 4] From birth to puberty's end, the brain sculpts its final form Synaptic pruning comprehends which connections weather the storm White matter tracks solidify, gray matter volume peaks and wanes The architecture certifies what in memory remains [Bridge] Not a switch but convergence streams Cortex-wide the pattern gleams Sensory systems lead the way Language regions follow sway Neuromodulation shifts its tune Plasticity meets its doom [Chorus] Critical periods rise and fall like tides upon the shore Phonetic gates slam shut before your first birthday and more Perineuronal nets crystallize, myelination locks the doors What was fluid now ossifies, plasticity no more The substrate hardens, connections freeze Learning shifts from flow to squeeze [Outro] Late learning leans on different ground When cheap rewiring can't be found The window closed, the die is cast But language learning holds steadfast
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