3.2a Physical Development: Prenatal Development, Infancy, and Childhood

Teratogens

Agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm

Fetal alcohol syndrome

Physical and cognitive function deficits in children caused by their birth mother’s heavy drinking during pregnancy. In severe cases, symptoms include a small, out-of-proportion head and distinct facial features

Habituation

Decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner

Maturation

Biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience

Critical period

An optimal period early in the life of an organism when exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces normal development