Lecture 4 - Biological, Motor, ans Sensory Development Flashcards
List the principles of growth
Cephalocaudal principle, proximodistal principle, orthogenetic principle
What is the cephalocaudal principle?
Growth in a head-to-tail direction
What is the proximodistal principle?
Growth from central to peripheral direction
What is the orthogenetic principle?
From global to differentiated and hierarchical direction
Why is the pituitary gland the master gland?
Triggers the release of hormones from all other glands
Which gland is directly triggering the release of growth hormones?
Pituitary gland
What it the thyroid gland?
Involved in growth and development
What is the effect of thyroid deficiency during infancy?
Intellectual disability and slow growth
Male hormones
Testosterone and androgen
Female hormones
Estrogen and progesterone
What is Hebb’s law?
Neurons that fire together wire together
Why is repetition important for learning according to Hebb’s law?
Neurons that are used repeatedly to perform a function become connected to facilitate performing the function
Explain synaptic pruning
Old connections are deleted > Use it or lose it
Account for specializing our brains
Wha is synaptogenesis?
Synapse formation
What is myelination?
Isolation of neurons
What is apoptosis?
Programmed cell death
What is the effect of myelination of the prefrontal cortex?
Abstract thinking in adolescence
Why do adults have a better ability to integrate thought and emotions than adolescents?
Because myelination continues into adulthood
What are the functions of the left hemisphere?
Sequential processing, analytical reasoning, language processing
What are the functions of the right hemisphere?
Simultaneous processing
What is gyrification?
Cortical folding; allows foe larger cortical surface area > greater cortical functioning
When do babies stop being able to differentiate sounds?
10-12 months
Which brain region has the most prolonged development?
Prefrontal cortex
When is the peak year of synaptic density?
1st year
What is the sensitive period?
Window of time during which an individual is more affected by experience > higher level of plasticity
What is brain atrophy and when does it occur?
Shrinkage of the brain during older age
What is the benefit of brain plasticity (in injury)?
Some brain areas can take over the function of other injured areas
Which brain structures shrink in older age?
PFC and hippocampus
What is the difference between more fit and physically active adults and their less fit counterparts?
More fit older adults have greater brain volumes
Greater grey matter value in PFC
Greater hippocampal volume > memory
Which are the core mechanics of brain development?
Synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning, myelination, brain lateralization, gyrification
Which are the newborn reflexes?
Rooting, sucking, grasping, moro, babinsky, stepping, diving, tonic neck
Explain primitive reflexes
Not clearly useful, remnants of evolutionary history without purpose
Forerunner of useful voluntary behavior, that develop later
What is the Babinski reflex?
Fanning then curling toes when bottom of foot is stroked
Why are newborn reflexes important?
Indicate status of nervous system
What is the Moro reflex?
Loud noise or sudden change in position of head causes baby to throw arms outward
Why do reflexes disappear?
Automatic processes are replaced by conscious cortical behavior > Spinal cord/brain stem replaced by cerebral cortex
Why don’t infant reflexes match the definition of a reflex?
Depend on activation status, reactions are adjustable, reactions are influenced by habituation and learning
When are fetuses able to discriminate different tones?
4 months
What does increased prevalence of impaction mean?
Earwax becomes more concentrated, hard and impacted
Hy does hearing become worse in older age?
Collapsed ear canal, increased prevalence of impaction, reduced hair cell population, spiral ganglion cell los (decline in word recognition)
Which flavors do newborns prefer?
Sweet
What happens to smell and taste in older age?
Decline in sensitivity, production of less saliva, detecting/remembering pleasant odors declines
Why might skin-to-skin contact impact brain development?
Makes babies calmer and sleep better
When does vision fully develop?
1 years
When does form perception develop?
3 months
When does meaningful face perception develop?
2-3 months
What is social referencing?
Checkin other’s emotions when confronted with a new objet/situation
What happens to vision during older age?
Swelling of cornea and reduction in cell density, increased intraocular pressure, presbyopia (aging of the eye)
What happens with movement during old age?
Balance system decreases, reduction in muscle strength, stiffness
When does the release of adrenal hormones begin and peak?
Early 20s
What is the peaking of adrenal hormones called?
Adrenache
What is the HPG axis?
In charge of increased production of gonadal hormones > responsible for sexual maturation
What is the most important force predicting a child’s puberty timetable?
Genetics
Early developing boys are ___
Socially competent, greater social acceptance
Increased risk of earlier substance abuse and problem behaviors
Late developing boys are ____
More anxious, lower elf–esteem
Early developing girls are ____
Teased, higher levels of body dissatisfaction, socialize with older peers, higher levels of depression
Late developing girls are ____
Outperform peers, anxiety
What is menopause and what are its consequences?
End of menstrual period and reproductive cycle.
Female hormone levels decline, depressive mood
What is andropause and what are its consequences?
Decrease in testosterone level, low libido, fatigue, erection problems
