Child Development: Puberty and Cognitive Theories

Puberty

Marker for the start of adolescence.

Prepubescent Growth Spurt

Rapid growth phase before puberty onset.

Skeletal Maturity

Completion of bone growth and development.

Precocious Puberty

Early onset of puberty,

which occurs before age 9 in boys and before age 8 in girls.

2x more likely in girls

Puberty Age Range for Girls

Typically occurs between ages 10-14.

Puberty Age Range for Boys

Typically occurs between ages 12-16.

Prepubescent Growth Spurt Age for Girls

Starts around age 9.

Prepubescent Growth Spurt Age for Boys

Starts around age 11.

Skeletal Maturation Age for Girls

Achieved by age 15.

Skeletal Maturation Age for Boys

Achieved by age 17.

Primary Sexual Characteristics

Organ changes necessary for reproduction.

girls - changes in the ovaries, uterus and vagina

boys- changes in the testes, scrotum and penis

Secondary Sexual Characteristics in Girls

Includes hair, breast budding and hip widening.

Secondary Sexual Characteristics in Boys

Includes hair, vocal changes, and the development of the adam’s apple

Heredity

Genetic factors influencing puberty timing.

Hormones

Chemical messengers in the endocrine system.

Androgens

Male hormones like testosterone.

Estrogens

Female hormones like estradiol.

Hypothalamus

Brain region regulating hormones and homeostasis.

Pituitary Gland

Master gland regulating growth and hormones.

Gonads

Sex glands: ovaries and testes.

Environmental Influences on Puberty

Factors like nutrition and family stress.

Critical Weight

Weight threshold linked to pubertal onset.

Timing of puberty

Influences adolescent social perceptions and experiences.

Neuroconstructivist

Studies biological and environmental influences on development.

Neuron

Basic building block of the nervous system.

Sensory neuron

Transmits messages from sense organs to CNS.

Interneurons

Connect neurons within the central nervous system.

Motor neuron

Sends signals from CNS to muscles and glands.

Dendrites

Branch-like structures receiving signals from neurons.

Axon

Long projection transmitting signals away from neuron.

Myelin sheath

Insulating layer speeding up neural impulses.

Glial cells

Supportive cells outnumbering neurons 10:1.

Cerebrum

Largest brain region, responsible for higher functions.

Frontal lobe

Involved in planning, decision-making, and motor control.

Broca's area

Region responsible for speech production.

Temporal lobe

Processes auditory information and language comprehension.

Occipital lobe

Primary area for processing visual information.

Pituitary gland

Master gland controlling other endocrine glands.

Hippocampus

Critical for memory formation and spatial navigation.

Synaptogenesis

Formation of new synapses, peaks at age 1.

Synaptic pruning

Elimination of weaker synapses, enhances efficiency.

Neuroplasticity

Brain's ability to adapt based on experiences.

Experience-expectant plasticity

Prewired for common experiences, like language.

Experience-dependent plasticity

Unique experiences shape brain development.

Adolescence brain development

Changes mainly in the corpus callosum and prefrontal cortex.

Limbic system

Involved in emotional behavior and aggression.

EEG

Measures electrical activity in the brain.

fMRI

Detects blood flow related to neural activity.

PET scan

Uses radioactive glucose to visualize brain activity.

Sleep in infancy

Newborns sleep 16-17 hours daily, mostly REM.

SIDS

Sudden infant death syndrome, unexplained infant death.

Nutrition in childhood

Poverty impacts nutrition and healthy eating habits.

BMI

Body mass index, height to weight ratio.

Eating disorders

Include bulimia, anorexia, and obesity.

Gross motor skills

Involve large muscle activities like walking.

Fine motor skills

Control over smaller muscles, like grasping.

Reflexes

Built-in reactions to stimuli in newborns.

Visual acuity

Clarity of vision, improves by 6 months.

Perceptual constancy

Understanding objects remain constant despite changes.

Depth perception

Ability to judge distance and see in 3D.

Auditory perception

Develops around 5-8 years, includes sound localization.

Olfactory perception

Infants can differentiate odors from birth.

Taste sensitivity

Preference for sweetness noted even prenatally.

Naive theories

Personal theories developed through experience.

Formal theories

Tested developmental theories explaining behavior.

Stage theories

Developmental theories divided into distinct stages.

Secondary Sexual Characteristics

Physical maturity signs not linked to reproduction.

Sensory Neuron

Transmits sensory information to the CNS.

Motor Neuron

Sends signals from CNS to muscles.

Glial Cells

Supportive cells in the nervous system.

Frontal Lobe

Involved in planning and decision-making.

Temporal Lobe

Processes auditory information.

Occipital Lobe

Primary visual processing area.

Cerebral Lateralization

Specialization of left and right brain hemispheres.

Synaptic Pruning

Elimination of weaker synapses.

Experience-Expectant Plasticity

Prewired for common experiences.

Infancy Sleep Patterns

Newborns sleep 16-17 hours daily.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Unexpected infant death during sleep.

Nutrition in Infancy

Breastfeeding provides antibodies and nutrients.

Gross Motor Skills

Large muscle movements like walking.

Fine Motor Skills

Control over small muscle movements.

Visual Acuity

Clarity of vision; improves by 6 months.

Depth Perception

Ability to judge distance and depth.

Auditory Perception

Ability to perceive sound; develops in womb.

Olfactory Perception

Ability to differentiate odors.

Taste Sensitivity

Preference for sweetness even before birth.

Formal Theories

Tested developmental theories.

Qualitative changes

Fundamental shifts in cognitive processes.

Discontinuity

Distinct stages of cognitive development.

Invariant sequence

Set order of developmental changes.

Non-stage theories

Theories that do not follow distinct stages.

Constructivist view

Children actively seek solutions independently.

Schema

A set pattern of behavior or thinking.

Operation

Ability to mentally manipulate objects.

Adaptation

Adjusting to new environmental demands.

Assimilation

Incorporating new information into existing schemas.

Accommodation

Adjusting schemas to fit new information.

Organization

Arranging and integrating information hierarchically.

Equilibrium

Cognitive balance between assimilation and accommodation.

Disequilibrium

Cognitive conflict that encourages learning.