Chapter 4- Infancy Flashcards
cephalocaudal principle
growth in infancy beginning at the head and moving down
proximodistal principle
growth proceeding from the middle of the body outward
synapses
tiny gaps between neurons across which communication takes place
neurotransmitters
the chemicals that release and receive communication across synapses
axon
what releases neurotransmitters
dendrites
what receives neurotransmitters
overproduction/ Synaptic Exuberance
large spurt in new connections between dendrites and axons during the first year
myelination
the wrapping of axons in a white fatty substance “myelin sheath” around week 14; substance speeds up neural communication
synaptic pruning
when used synaptic connections get stronger and faster while others wither away
hypothalamus
a small structure in limbic system that monitors and regulates basic animal functions; hunger thirst, body temperature, sexual desire, hormone levels
thalamus
structure in the limbic system that receives and transfers sensory info from body to the brain
hippocampus
the structure in the limbic system that is responsible for memory; especially long term
cerebral cortex
the outermost part of the forebrain that has two hemispheres and 4 lobes
corpus callosum
the fibers that act as the glue between the left and right hemispheres of the cerebral cortex
lateralization
the speciialization of the left and right hemispheres
occipital lobes
the rear of each hemisphere that processes visual info
temporal lobes
the lower sides of the hemispheres that process auditory info including understanding spoken language
parietal lobes
processes info from bodily sensations
frontal lobes
the center of most advanced human brain processes; speaking and making decisions
prefrontal cortex
the front lobes that plan and organize info to direct behavior
plasticity
the idea that the brain is highly responsive to environmental circumstances
custom complex
a distinctive cultural pattern of behavior that is based on underlying cultural beliefs
marasmus
a disease where the body wastes away bc of malnutrition
oral rehydration therapy
having infants with diarrhea drink salt and glucose in water
gross motor development
balance, posture, whole-body movements
fine motor development
finely tunded movements of the hands
prereaching
when neonates extend their arms towards something
depth perception
the ability to discern the relative distance of objects in a n environment
binocular vision
the ability to combine the images of each eye into one image
intermodal perception
the integration and coordination of sensory information
mental structures
the cognitive systems that oranize thinking into coherent patterns so that all thinking takes place on the same level of cognitive functioning
cognitive developmental approach
the focus on how cognition changes with age; piaget
maturation
biologically driven program of developmental change
schemes
cognitive structures for processing, organizing, and interpreting information
assimilation
when new info is altered to fit into an existing scheme
accommodation
changing the scheme to adapt to the new info
sensorimotor stage
developmental stage involving learning how to coordinate activities of senses with motor activities
object permanence
the awareness that objects exist even when we aren’t in direct sensory or motor contact with them
a-not-b-error
when infants make the mistake of selecting the familiar hiding place (a) instead of the new hiding place (b)
info processing approach
understanding cognitive functioning that focuses on cognitive processes that exist at all ages instead of viewing cognitive development in terms of discontinuous stages
habituation
gradual decrease in attention to a stimulus after shown repeatedly
dishabituation
the return of attention when new stimulus presented after habituation
short-term memory
the capacity to retain info for a brief time
long-term memory
the knowledge accumulated over time
developmental quotient
the result of the Bayley scales that measures the baby’s developmental progress
temperament
biologically based raw material personality
goodness-of-fit
when kids develop best if there is a good fit between their temperament and their environment
primary emotions
the basic emotions that we share with animals; evident in year 1
secondary emotions
emotions that require social and cultural learning
social smile
expression of happiness in response to interacting with others
emotional contagion
he recognition of an emotion that leads to crying as a signal of distress
attachment theory
bowlby’s theory that focuses on the importance of infants’ relationship with their primary caregiver
trust vs. mistrust
the 1st stage of development in Erikson’s psychosocial theory when the central crisis is the need to establish a stable attachment to a loving and nurturing caregiver
