PHYSICAL, SENSORY AND PERCEPTUAL INFANT DEVELOPMENT Flashcards
Apart from prenatal development, when is the greatest degree of physical change in one’s lifetime?
First 2 years of life
During infancy, babies grown __ to __ centimeters and _x their body weight
25 to 30, 3x their body weight
When are toddlers about half their adult height?
For girls at age 2, and for boys age 2 and a half
The brain and nervous system develop rapidly in the first _ years
2
What brain structures are the most and least developed at birth and what do they do?
The midbrain and medulla are most developed-they regulate vital functions like eating and sleeping
The Cortex is the least developed, and it controls perception, thinking and language
Define Synaptogenesis, Synaptic Pruning, and Myelinization
Synaptogenesis: The creation of new synapses
Synaptic Pruning: Cutting off un-used synapses, occurs a lot in early childhood
Myelinization- Myelin covers axons and electrically insulates them, making them work quicker and more efficiently
How do a 1-year-old’s synapses and dendrites differ from an adult?
A 1-year-old has denser dendrites and synapses, which leads to greater neuroplasticity. However, their brain’s network is far less efficient than an adult’s
When is Myelinization the most rapid?
First two years
What is Reticular Formation and how does it relate to Myelinization
Reticular formation is the part of the brain that regulates attention, and it isnt fully myelinized until one’s 20s
Define and compare Adaptive and Primitive reflexes
Adaptive reflexes (sucking) help keep newborns alive, some disappear in infancy while some continue to adulthood
Primitive reflexes are controlled by primitive parts of the brain and disappear after 6 months
What are Rooting, Babinski and Moro and when do they disappear?
Rooting- A soft touch on the cheek will cause an infant to turn toward the touch and open their mouth in an attempt to suck (3 months)
Babinski- When the sole of the foot is stroked, the infant’s toes fan out and up (12 months)
Moro- A sudden noise or loss of support causes the infant to arch the back and throw the arms and legs out and then bring them back in (4-5 months)
What are different states of consciousness infants shift through?
Deep sleep, Lighter sleep, Alert wakefulness, Angry, Drowsy
Neonates sleep __% of the time
80%
How does sleep change at 8 weeks? 6 months?
8 weeks- Babies will begin sleeping through the night
6 months- Babies are sleeping 13 hours per day
What are a baby’s 3 basic cries?
Basic cry (hunger, rhythmic), Angry cry (louder and more intense), and Pain cry (very abrupt)
Crying increases until _ _____ then tapers off
6 weeks of age
What is Colic (what type of cry)?
Colic has an unknown cause, with intense, angry crying for 3 or more hours per day for several months
What does the acquisition of motor skills depend on?
Brain development and changes in other body systems (muscles)
Define Cephalocaudal and Proximodistal patterns (which comes first?) Example?
Cephalocaudal pattern of development occurs first, and goes from the head down, and Proximodistal development goes center of the body out (needing head and neck stability before being able to crawl/walk)
Increase in ______ of long bones underlie increases in height
Length
Changes in ______ and _______ of bones lead to improved coordination
Number and density
What is Ossification? When does it occur? How is it related to motor development?
Ossification is the hardening of bones, and it begins during prenatal development. It is required for an infants motor development
How many muscle Fibers are present at birth?
Virtually all of them
What is the initial muscle to water ratio? What happens to fat ratio by age 1?
High water : muscle, the high fat content greatly decreases by age 1
