norm exam #2

gross development

concerns main neurological structures

micro development

organization of neurological structures

infant brain at conception/while in the womb

• neurons are overproduced, so more than half are pruned back

• neurons multiply intensively at 6 months

• 4 months to birth: neurons migrate to form specialized areas of function

infant brain during postnatal period

neurons experience myelination and synaptogenesis

• increases efficiency of neural networks

perceptual skills

• distinguish different smells/tastes

• reacts to touch

• focus on interesting visual events

  • high contrast, moving objects, around 8 inches away

• remember briefly events that happened a few seconds ago

• discriminate sounds

motor skills

• eat

• sleep

• produce basic body functions

• reflexes

• crying

what kinds of skills does a baby already have in the first 6 months that support later learning and interation?

significant changes in perception of phonemes

reflexes in newborns at 6 months

most reflexes disappear or are modified by 6 months of age due to rapid brain growth and mylienization

phasic bite

• stimulation: touching/rubbing the gums

• response: bite-release mouth pattern

rooting

• stimulation: stroking cheek at corner of mouth

• response: head turns toward side being stroked; mouth begins sucking movements

sucking

• stimulation: inserting finger or nip ple into mouth

• response: rhythmic sucking

oral reflexes in infants

• helps with speech movement in the future

• primary oral reflexes allow them to react to things in the world while learning to control their body

• if in these stages for too long, they can have problems with speech in the future

perceptual skills related to speech and language

• can discriminate sounds

  • responds differently to sounds such as /p/ and /b/ within a few days

• as early as 3 weeks: abiity to discriminate speech sounds in infants is associated with ltierary skills in children

• newborns detect all phonemes

• transactional theory: adults influence child and child influences adult