PSYCH 223 - Physical, Sensory, & Perceptual Development in Infancy

Flashcards for reviewing key concepts in physical, sensory, and perceptual development in infancy, covering physical changes, brain development, reflexes, motor skills, health, sensory skills, and perceptual abilities.

During infancy, how much do babies typically grow and gain weight in the first year?

Babies grow 25 to 30 centimetres and triple their body weight.

Which parts of the brain are most fully developed at birth?

The midbrain and medulla, which regulate vital functions.

Which part of the brain is least developed at birth?

The cortex, involved in perception, body movement, thinking, and language.

What is the role of the cerebellum in brain development?

Maintains balance and motor coordination; grows fastest during the first year of life.

What are the functions of the left and right hemispheres of the cerebrum?

Left hemisphere: hub of language and logical thinking. Right hemisphere: processes visual and spatial information.

What is myelination and why is it important for brain function?

Myelination is the process where axons are covered with myelin. It electrically insulates them, improving nerve conductivity and speeding up communication within the brain.

What is synaptogenesis and synaptic pruning, and why are they important?

Synaptogenesis is the creation of synapses, followed by synaptic pruning to make the brain more efficient. This process allows the brain to reorganize neural pathways and connections in response to experience (neuroplasticity).

What are primitive reflexes and when do they typically disappear?

Primitive reflexes are controlled by lower brain and disappear by about 6 months of age

Give an example of primitive reflex

Rooting, Babinski, Moro

How do patterns of sleep and wakefulness change during infancy?

Patterns stabilize with age; neonates sleep 80% of the time, by 8 weeks babies start sleeping through the night, and by 6 months they sleep 13 hours per day.

Describe the different types of infant cries.

Basic cry (hunger, rhythmical), anger cry (louder, more intense), and pain cry (abrupt onset).

What is the cephalocaudal pattern of physical development?

Physical development proceeds from the head downward.

What is the proximodistal pattern of physical development?

Physical development proceeds from the center of the body outward.

What is ossification and why is it important?

Ossification is the process of hardening of bones, beginning during prenatal development and continuing through puberty, required for motor development.

What are locomotor skills?

Locomotor skills (gross motor) - crawling

What are nonlocomotor skills?

Nonlocomotor skills – controlling head movements

What are manipulative skills?

Manipulative skills (fine motor control) – use of hands and fingers

List milestones of motor development in the first year

Stepping reflex (1 month), Lifts head up to 90- degree angle when lying on stomach (2–3 months), Rolls over; sits with support; moves on hands and knees (“creeps”) (4–6 months), Sits without support; crawls (7–9 months)

List milestones of motor development in the second year

Pulls self up and walks grasping furniture; then walks alone (10–12 months), Walks backward, sideways; runs (14–20 mos.) (13–18 months), Walks up and down stairs, two feet per step (19–24 months)

How does malnutrition impact infant development?

Malnutrition can seriously impair brain development leading to marasmus (severe calorie deficiency) or kwashiorkor (protein deficiency).

What are the recommendations for infant immunizations?

Routine immunization should commence at two-months of age and continue through childhood and adolescence. A full set of immunizations includes chickenpox, hepatitis, diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis, influenza, polio, pneumonia, meningitis, and measles, mumps and rubella virus vaccine

What defines preterm infants?

Preterm infants are born before 37 weeks gestation

What defines post-term infants?

Post term babies are born 42 weeks or more after conception

List ways to reduce the risk of SIDS.

Place the baby on her back when she sleeps, eliminate quilts, duvets, pillows, soft toys, and crib bumpers that may cover the infant’s head, avoid laying the baby on soft surfaces or on loose bedding, avoid bed sharing or otherwise sleeping or napping with the baby and provide a smoke-free environment during pregnancy and in the home after the infant’s birth.

What is nonorganic failure to thrive (FTT)

Slowed or arrested physical growth with no known medical cause, accompanied by poor developmental and emotional functioning

What is the visual acuity of a newborn, and how does it change over time?

The visual acuity of a newborn is about 40 times worse than that of a normal-sighted adult. By 6 months of age, vision improves to the point where it is only eight times worse than that of a normal-sighted adult.

When do infants develop color vision comparable to adults?

By 1 month

How well do newborns hear compared to adults?

Newborns hear nearly as well as adults do, though high-pitched noises need to be louder to be heard.

What are the three basic methods used to study perceptual development in infants?

Preference Technique, Habituation/Dishabituation, and Operant Conditioning.

What are the three types of cues infants use for depth perception?

Binocular cues, Monocular cues, and Kinetic cues

At what age does infant depth peception begin to develop?

Around 3 to 7 months

When can infants discriminate between single syllables like 'pa' and 'ba'?

At 1 month

What is intermodal perception, and when does it develop?

Formation of a single perception of a stimulus based on information from two or more senses; possible as early as 1 month and common by 6 months.

What is the Moro reflex, when does it appear, when does it disappear, and is it adaptive or reflexive?

The Moro reflex is triggered when a baby is dropped or hears a loud noise, causing them to extend their legs, arms, and fingers; arch their back, and draw back their head. It appears in the 7th month of gestation and disappears by 3 months. It is a reflexive behavior.

What is the Darwinian (grasping) reflex, when does it appear, when does it disappear, and is it adaptive or reflexive?

The Darwinian (grasping) reflex occurs when the palm of a baby’s hand is stroked, causing them to make a strong fist that can support their weight. It appears in the 7th month of gestation and disappears by 4 months. It is a reflexive behavior.

What is the Tonic Neck reflex, when does it appear, when does it disappear, and is it adaptive or reflexive?

The Tonic Neck reflex is observed when a baby is laid down on their back, causing them to turn their head to one side and assume a 'fencer' position, extending arms and legs on the preferred side and flexing the opposite limbs. It appears in the 7th month of gestation and disappears by 5 months. It is a reflexive behavior.

What is the Babkin reflex, when does it appear, when does it disappear, and is it adaptive or reflexive?

The Babkin reflex is triggered when both of a baby’s palms are stroked at once, causing their mouth to open, eyes to close, neck to flex, and head to tilt forward. It appears at birth and disappears by 3 months. It is a reflexive behavior.

What is the Babinski reflex, when does it appear, when does it disappear, and is it adaptive or reflexive?

The Babinski reflex occurs when the sole of a baby’s foot is stroked, causing their toes to fan out and their foot to twist in. It appears at birth and disappears by 4 months. It is a reflexive behavior.

What is the Rooting reflex, when does it appear, when does it disappear, and is it adaptive or reflexive?

The Rooting reflex is triggered when a baby’s cheek or lower lip is stroked with a finger or nipple, causing their head to turn, mouth to open, and sucking movements to begin. It appears at birth and disappears by 9 months. It is a adaptive behavior.

What is the Walking reflex, when does it appear, when does it disappear, and is it adaptive or reflexive?

The Walking reflex is observed when a baby is held under the arms with their bare feet touching a flat surface, causing them to make steplike motions that look like coordinated walking. It appears at 1 month and disappears by 4 months. It is a reflexive behavior.

What is the Swimming reflex, when does it appear, when does it disappear, and is it adaptive or reflexive?

The Swimming reflex occurs when a baby is put into water face down, causing them to make well-coordinated swimming movements. It appears at 1 month