Chapter 4 lifespan canvas notes

Cephalocaudal Principle

The principle that development proceeds from the head down to the rest of the body.

Proximodistal Principle

The principle that development proceeds from the center of the body outward to the extremities.

Teething

The process by which an infant's teeth begin to emerge, often causing discomfort.

Synapse

A tiny gap between neurons where communication occurs.

Neurotransmitter

Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse between neurons.

Dendrite

A part of a neuron that receives signals from other neurons.

Myelination

The process of forming a myelin sheath around a neuron to increase the speed of signal transmission.

Synaptic pruning

The process of eliminating excess neurons and synapses to increase the efficiency of neuronal transmissions.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

The unexplained death of a seemingly healthy baby, usually during sleep.

Cosleeping

The practice of sleeping in close proximity to infants, often in the same bed.

Marasmus

A severe form of malnutrition caused by insufficient intake of protein and calories.

Depth perception

The ability to perceive the distance of objects in the environment.

Intermodal perception

The ability to integrate and coordinate sensory information from different modalities.

Maturation

A biologically driven program of developmental change.

Assimilation

The process of integrating new information into existing cognitive structures.

Accommodation

The process of modifying cognitive structures to incorporate new information.

Object permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen.

Infant temperament

The innate predispositions to respond to the environment in certain ways.

Goodness-of-fit

The compatibility between a child's temperament and the demands of their environment.

Primary emotions

Basic emotions such as happiness, sadness, fear, and anger that develop in infancy.

Social referencing

The use of emotional cues from others to guide behavior in uncertain situations.

Infant-directed (ID) speech

A stylistic way of speaking to infants that involves a higher pitch, exaggerated intonation, and simplified grammar.

Bayley Scales of Infant Development

A standardized tool to assess the development of infants in cognitive, language, and motor skills.