chapter 4

Breastfeeding

Provides improved nutrition, enhances immunity, and supports growth and weight gain in infants.

Neurogenesis

The process through which new neurons are formed in the brain, primarily during prenatal development.

Synaptogenesis

The formation of synapses between neurons that allows communication across the nervous system.

Myelination

The process of forming a myelin sheath around nerve fibers to boost the speed of electrical communication between neurons.

Experience-Dependent Brain Development

Adaptive changes in the brain based on individual experiences, influenced by personal interactions and encounters.

Experience-Expectant Brain Development

Development that occurs at specific stages in response to expected universal experiences common to all humans.

Habituation

Reduced response to repeated stimuli.

Dishabituation

Renewed response to novel stimuli.

Rooting Reflex

An instinctual behavior in newborns that helps them find food by turning their head towards a touched cheek.

Sucking Reflex

An instinctual behavior that allows infants to suck on objects and draw milk from a breast or bottle.

Moro Reflex

A startle reflex occurring when an infant feels a sudden loss of support or hears a loud noise.

Visual Preference Technique

A method that assesses infants' stimulus preferences based on their looking time at different stimuli.

SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

A condition associated with increased risk factors such as stomach sleeping, exposure to smoke, and soft bedding.

Thomas & Chess Temperament Model

Categorizes children into three primary temperament styles: Easy, Difficult, and Slow to Warm Up.

Rothbart's Temperament Model

Describes temperament in three dimensions: Surgency, Negative Affect, and Self-Regulation.

Phonemes

Distinct sounds that newborns are sensitive to, aiding them in language acquisition.

Visual Acuity

The sharpness or clarity of vision, which improves considerably during an infant's first year.

High-contrast patterns

Visual stimuli that infants prefer, particularly during early months of life.