Developmental Lecture 1: Introduction & Prenatal Development

Question 1

Developmental psychology

Answer 1

A branch of social psychology that studies physical, cognitive and social change throughout the lifespan

Question 2

When does development begin?

Answer 2

Conception

Question 3

Stage 1 (5)

Answer 3

• Zygote
• Up to week 2
• A zygote is a single cell
• Contains 46 unique chromosomes
• Develops into an embryo

Question 4

Stage 2 (6)

Answer 4

• Embryo
• Week 2 to 8
• Development occurs at a rapid pace
• Critical period for susceptibility to damage
• Crucial development in terms of organ formation and sexual development
• Brain & spinal cord, sexual development, movement

Question 5

Stage 3 (2)

Answer 5

• Foetal
• From 2 months

Question 6

Stage 3, by 9 weeks (2):

Answer 6

• Foetus can swallow
• Face, palms, soles of feet can sense light touch

Question 7

Stage 3, by 10 weeks:

Answer 7

Fingernails and toenails are growing

Question 8

Stage 3, 13-14 weeks (3):

Answer 8

• Most of the foetus is touch-sensitive
• A foetus near the mouth shows the same rooting reflex newborns use to find food
• Clear gender differences emerge

Question 9

Stage 3, 20 weeks:

Answer 9

Foetus hears and responses to growing medley of sounds

Question 10

Stage 3, 25 weeks (2):

Answer 10

• Foetus response to taste
• Positive response to sweet food negative response to bitter food

Question 11

Embryo Stage 1

Answer 11

Organ formation

Question 12

Organ Formation (4)

Answer 12

• 18 days after fertilisation, the embryo’s heart appears
• 3 weeks and 1 day after fertilisation, the heart begins to beat
• by 4 weeks, heart typically beats between 105-121 times a minute
• by 8 weeks, major features can be defined (arms, hands, toes…)

Question 13

Embryo Stage 2

Answer 13

Brain & Spinal cord

Question 14

Brain & spinal cord (3)

Answer 14

• by 2 weeks, 4 days, site of future brain development first recognisable with appearance of neural plate
• 3 weeks, neural plate thickens at head end of embryo and folds into neural tube which will form brain and spinal cord
• 3 weeks, 3 primary sections of brain are identifiable: forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain

Question 15

Embryo Stage 3

Answer 15

Movement

Question 16

Movement (3)

Answer 16

• between 5-6 weeks, embryo starts to move
• essential for normal development of bones and joints
• sections begin as embryo can begin to move reflexively

Question 17

Embryo Stage 4 (3)

Answer 17

Sexual development

Question 18

Sexual development

Answer 18

• XX is female, XY is male
• a gene on the Y chromosome initiates chemical process for the development of testes, when no Y chromosome, ovaries develop
• development of testes in turn secret androgens

Question 19

How do we know about the ability of the foetus? (2)

Answer 19

• ultrasound
• foetal heart rate

Question 20

When does foetal learning occur?

Answer 20

When exposure takes place

Question 21

De Casper et al. (3)

Answer 21

• 1994
• Foetal reactions to recurrent maternal speech
• Pregnant women recited a short type aloud, each day, between 30-37 weeks of pregnancy

Question 22

Hepper (3)

Answer 22

• 1991
• Foetal reactions to exposure to television theme tunes
• Babies of mothers who had heard the sound tracks during pregnancy showed a more calm response than those who didn’t

Question 23

Foetal learning

Answer 23

Testing newborns may reveal components of development from the prenatal phase

Question 24

Teratogens

Answer 24

Substances which, when ingested by the mother-to-be, can adversely affect her unborn child

Question 25

The Dutch Famine Study

Answer 25

• The effects of prenatal exposure to famine on later health
• Evidence that the effects persisted into the next generation

Question 26

Types of teratogens (2)

Answer 26

• Diseases/infections (rubella, syphilis…)
• Medicine/drugs (illegal drugs, aspirin…)

Question 27

Teratogen exposure: critical period

Answer 27

Time when a particular organ or other body part of the organism is the most susceptible to teratogenic damage

Question 28

Teratogen exposure: zygote

Answer 28

Before implantation, teratogens rarely have an impact. If they do, the tiny mass of cells usually die

Question 29

Teratogen exposure: embryonic

Answer 29

Time when serious defects are most common because the foundations of all body parts are put in place

Question 30

Teratogen exposure: foetal

Answer 30

Teratogen damage is usually minor. However, organs such as the brain, eye, genitals can still be strongly affected

Question 31

Ness et al. (3)

Answer 31

• 1999
• Effect of cocaine and tobacco on pregnancy
• Both drugs were significantly related to miscarriage (analysis of urine and hair samples)

Question 32

Reissland (5)

Answer 32

• 2015
• Effects of smoking on a foetus
• Infants born healthy but infants from smoking mothers displayed higher rate of mouth movements compared to control group
• Foetal central nervous system did not develop at the same rate, therefore behaviour was less mature
• Speech delay in infants pre-exposed to smoke

Question 33

Foetal alcohol syndrome

Answer 33

A disorder of permanent brith defects which occurs in the offspring of women who drink alcohol during pregnancy

Question 34

What is the main effect of foetal alcohol syndrome?

Answer 34

Central nervous system damage, especially brain damage

Question 35

Chromosomal abnormalities (2)

Answer 35

• Changes that affect chromosomes can cause problems with growth, development, and function of the body’s system
• Change in the number or structure of chromosomes is known as a chromosomal disorder