3.2 Reading Quiz Flashcards
Teratogens
agents such as viruses and drugs, can damage an embryo or fetus
congenital
a disease present at birth
germinal stage
completes the zygote
placenta
the life-link that transfers nutrients and oxygen from mother to embryo
fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
physical and cognitive function deficits in children caused by their birth mother’s heavy drinking during pregnancy.
epigenetic effect
leaves chemical marks on DNA that switch genes abnormally on or off
habituation
decreased responding with repeated stimulation
Maturation
biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
such as severe deprivation or abuse, can slow development
synaptic pruning
the process in which the brain removes neurons and synapses that it does not need
Critical Period
an optimal period early in the life of an organism when exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces normal development.
Adolescence
the years spent morphing from child to adult
Puberty
the period of sexual maturation, during which a person usually becomes capable of reproducing.
menarche
first menstruation period
death-deferral phenomenon
Phillips referred to this tendency for people to avoid dying just before or during important holidays
