Week 3 Flashcards
Developmental Systems Theory
Development occurs within a system of interacting levels
-Environment, behavior, neural activity and genetic activity
Epigenesis
any functional change in the genome that does not involve an alteration in the DNA sequence
-gene expression
-does not change DNA code but can be passed on through generations
Rat grooming experiment
-high grooming moms offspring have lower stress response and become HG mom
-low grooming moms offspring have higher stress response and become LG moms
-Methylation prevents gene from creating receptors causing poor regulation of stress
-methylation is equal at birth and by day 6 demethylation in high groomed pups occurs
Genotype environment theory
PASSIVE EFFECTS
when genetically related parents provide a rearing environment for their child
EVOCATIVE EFFECTS
when a child elicits responses from others that are influenced by his/her genotype
ACTIVE EFFECTS
When a child’s genotype influences the types of environments he/she selects
Conduct disorders
-difficulty with self-regulation combined with fear or anger which leads to dysregulated behavior
-emerge by 8 years: more common in boys
-onset before age 10 = more aggressive
-result of genetics and antisocial family members, deviant peers, inconsistent discipline, parental insensitivity, family stress
-treatment: consequence behavior therapy
-family oriented treatment most effective
-associated with low MAOA activity (can mediate affects if high activity)
Multisensory effects
QUESTION: do baby ducks recognize species specific maternal call
-originally seen to have innate preference but they just listen to the call while in egg and develop that preference during prenatal development
what are the 5 stages of brain development
- Formation of the Neural Tube
- Neurogenesis
- Migration
- Differentiation
- Cell and Synaptic Pruning
Formation of the Neural Tube
-Occurs 18-24 days after conception
-flat neural plate folds to create tube
-failure to properly close can cause birth defects (spina bifida)
Neurogenesis
-Neurons form in one small region of neural tube
-10-28 weeks after conception
-4000 neurons/sec at peak
-New neurons are typically not formed after birth
Migration
-Neurons move to permanent locations in the brain - via glial cells
-faulty migration associated with various disorders (Cerebral palsy or epilepsy)
Differentiation
NEURONS
-grow in size
-produce more dendrites and longer axons
-become specialized
SYNAPTOGENESIS
-process in which synapses form begins
INCREASED MYELINATION
-fatty sheath that protects and covers axons
-speeds conduction velocity
-reduces leakage of electrical impulses
-occurs early in infancy and up until early adulthood
Cell and Synaptic Pruning
-Removal of neurons and synapses that are not being used
-results in increased efficiency in remaining neurons/synapses
-“use it or loss it” phenomenon
Prenatal Hearing
-At 16 weeks gestation, a developing fetus perceives sound outside womb through fluid-filled ears
-fetus learns focal rhythms and patterns which prepares them to perceive sounds in their native language
-mostly hear the mother
Should parents read to their prenatal “students”?
no evidence to suggest that this stimulates brain development
-music is a stimulating pattern but only rhythm is filtered into the embryonic fluid
Newborns of deaf parents
-No evidence that hearing children of deaf parents experience language delay (5-10 hours of exposure/week sufficient)
-demonstrate same auditory preferences
DeCasper & spence Dr.Seuss study
-mothers instructed to read Dr.Seuss out loud while pragnant
-after birth, newborns prefer listening to Dr.seuss over other stories and prefer their mothers voice over other readers
Prenatal tasting study
-3 groups of women who planned to breastfeed
A. drink carrot juice 4 days a week in the last 3 weeks of 3rd trimester, switch to water after birth
B. Drink water during 3rd trimester, switch to carrot juice after birth
C. Control group: just water
-When babies were started solid goods, given cereal made with water or carrot juice
-infants exposed to carrot juice showed fewer negative facial expressions and enjoyed carrot cereal more
Facial movements of fetus studied in Utero: prenatal tasting
-used 4D ultrasound scans
-moms given flavored capsules: carrot (non-bitter) or kale (bitter)
-control group: not given anything
-Kale made grimacing face
-carrot smiled
Teratogens
Agent that causes abnormal prenatal development
Thalidomide
-sedative prescribed for morning sickness in 1950s
-babies born with deformities in arms, legs, hands, fingers
-10,000 infants affected before it was pulled from market
-Dr.Kelsey, medical officer of health for US FDA in 1960 refused approval
Diseases effect on development
-Can pass through placenta and attack the fetus directly
Eg Cytomegalovirus (Type of Herpes), rubella, syphilis, Zika
-May attack at birth from the lining of the birth canal
Eg Genital herpes, AIDS, zika
Nicotine
-constricts blood vessels and thus decreases oxygen and nutrient flow to fetus through the placenta
-increased risk of miscarriages, premature births, prolonged developmental impacts
- children show impaired cognitive skills, delayed language, behavioral problems
- Adolescents show impaired memory
Alcohol
FASD: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
-broader categorization
FAS: Fetal Alcohol syndrome
FAS
-Women who drank at least 5 ounces per week during pregnancy
-Slow growth, heart problems, characteristic facial features (small head, thin upper lip, short nose, wide spaced eyes)
-Actual brain damage prenatally causing cognitive deficits
What amount is safe to drink
Problem: self-reports
Genetic: Protective factors
Individual differences: how they react to alcohol
cautionary approach: none
What are the main 6 neonatal reflexes
-The rooting reflex
-the moro reflex
-the grasping reflex
-the babinski reflex
-the stepping reflex
-the tonic-neck reflex
Rooting Reflex
Sucking in response to being touched at the cheek or around mouth
Moro Reflex
Startle response to sudden loss of support, typically consisting of arms spreading out, arms pulling in and crying
Grasping reflex
Reflex of the hand to grasp when touched
Babinski reflex
dorsiflexion of the toe and spreading out of toes in response to touch along foot
Stepping reflex
When feet feels a solid surface, legs move automatically
Tonic-neck reflex
Position of infants arms and head that resembles a fencing pose
-disappears around 4 months of age
Are neonatal actually imitating facial expression?
-Meltzoff and moore, 1977 claimed neonates can imitate facial expressions
-subsequent studies have failed to replicate the findings
-Suomi et al. showed that neonatal imitation can be seen in mother-reared monkeys
-current interpretation: likely a reflex, that helps to establish emotional bonds with caregivers
Crying
-Typical newborns cry for 2-3 hours/day
- Basic cry, mad cry, pain cry
Basic cry
starts softly and gradually becomes more intense - typically in response to hunger or fatigue
Mad cry
More intense
Pain Cry
sudden, long shriek, followed by a long pause, the gasping
Strategies for neonates crying
-Age 0-3 months: attend to baby and check for signs of discomfort
-After 3 months: let baby cry and learn to self-soothe
Shaken Baby Syndrome
-Abusive head trauma sustained by an infant because of rough shaking
-Often to stop baby form crying
-damage in 5 sec
-Infants have soft brains and weak neck muscles, when shaken brain hits skull causing bleeding bruising and swelling - brain cells lack oxygen and die causing permanent brain damage
-impulsive act by exhausted/frustrated caregiver
Harlow’s Infant Attachment Experiment
-Monkey spent 17-18 hours on comfort robot and 1 hour feeding
-Evolutionary drive teaches us to seek comfort when food stores are low
Kangaroo Care
-method of care for preterm infants
-diaper-clad infant held skin to skin against mother’s breast under mothers clothes with blanket
-Causes regular heart rate, better sleep and better lactation for mothers
