3. The Newborn Baby

Question 1

Discuss the sensory capabilities of the following in newborns:
1. Touch - p____, p____, p____, t____
2. Balance - v____ system
3. Smell - c____ smell
4. Taste - s____, b____, s____, s____
5. Hearing - l____ frequencies - ability to l____ sounds improves over first __ years of life
6. Vision - about __/__ at birth, improves to 20/20 at about __ months

Answer 1

1. Pain, pressure, proprioception, temperature
2. Vestibular system
3. Can smell
4. Salt, bitter, sweet, sour
5. Lower frequencies - ability to localise sounds improves over first 7 years of life
6. About 20/400 at birth, improves to 20/20 at about 6 months

Question 2

What does the fact some reflexes are vestigial mean?
These reflexes have p____ or w____ lost their o____ f____

Answer 2

These reflexes have partially or wholly lost their original function

Question 3

What are two neonatal behavioural orienting responses?
1. V____ t____
2. A____ t____

Answer 3

1. Visual tracking
2. Auditory tracking

Question 4

What are two reflexes related to the following:
1. Clinging - p____ and p____ g____, m____
2. Breastfeeding - r____, s____
3. Locomotion - c____, s____

Answer 4

1. Palmar & plantar grasp, Moro
2. Rooting, sucking
3. Crawling, stepping

Question 5

Most neurons are present at birth, but glia continue to multiply. What is the purpose of glia?
Provide s____ s____, m____ and i____ neuronal a____ with m____

Answer 5

Glia provide structural support, maintenance and insulate neuronal axons with myelin

Question 6

What is myelination?
Formation of f____ s____ around a____

Answer 6

Formation of fatty sheathes around axons

Question 7

Why is myelination important?

Answer 7

Important as means information can be transmitted at 10-100 m/s instead of 1 m/s

Question 8

Define synaptogenesis
F____ of new c____ between n____ (facilitated by m____)

Answer 8

Formation of new connections between neurons (facilitated by myelination)

Question 9

What is the purpose of oligodendrocytes?
Lay down m____ s____ in the c____ n____ s____

Answer 9

Lay down myelin sheaths in the central nervous system

Question 10

In the peripheral nervous system, myelination is done by what?
S____ cells

Answer 10

Schwann cells

Question 11

What are two pieces of evidence for critical and sensitive periods in brain development?
1. S____ d____ studies
2. Effects of extreme s____ d____ on brain development

Answer 11

1. Sensory deprivation studies
2. Effects of extreme social deprivation on brain development

Question 12

If children born with cataracs don’t get them fixed by age 7, what happens?
They can’t ever learn to s____ p____
Need visual input early in life in order for v____ s____ to d____, c____ and f____ properly

Answer 12

They cannot ever learn to see properly
Need visual input early in life in order for visual system to develop, connect and function properly

Question 13

When is the optimum time to have cataracs operated on?

Answer 13

3 months
The closer to 3 months, the better