3: Developmental 3

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to prenatal development and visual development in infants as discussed in developmental psychology.

Prenatal Development

The development that occurs from the moment of conception to birth.

Gestation Period

The period over which prenatal development occurs, typically 38 to 40 weeks for humans.

Teratogen

An agent that can cause malformation or harm to a developing embryo or fetus.

Germinal Period

The first two weeks of prenatal development, from conception to implantation of the blastocyst.

Embryonic Period

The period of prenatal development from week 3 to week 8, where major organs and body parts form.

Fetal Period

The longest period of prenatal development, from the ninth week until birth, characterized by rapid growth.

Anencephaly

A condition resulting from failure of the neural tube to close properly, leading to absence of a major portion of the brain.

Spina Bifida

A condition resulting from improper closure of the neural tube, where the spinal cord protrudes outside the body.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

A condition resulting from heavy alcohol consumption during pregnancy, characterized by a cluster of physical and cognitive abnormalities.

Critical Period

A time frame during development when certain experiences are essential for normal development.

Visual Acuity

The clarity or sharpness of vision, typically developing rapidly in infants.

Imprinting

A rapid learning process where animals develop attachments based on the first moving object they see after birth.

Sensitive Period

A timeframe in development when a certain experience optimally impacts development, but can be compensated for later.

Other Race Effect

The phenomenon where individuals are generally better at recognizing faces of their own race compared to other races.

Visual Preferences

The tendency of infants to prefer certain types of visual stimuli, such as faces or high-contrast patterns.

Television Acuity Test

A test to assess an infant's visual acuity based on their preference for high contrast patterns over plain areas.

Cataracts

Cloudiness of the lens of the eye that prevents light from entering, potentially affecting vision development in infants.

Habituation and Dishabituation

A method used to study infant perception, where infants show increased interest in new stimuli after becoming bored with a familiar one.