Exam 2 Study Guide

Cephalocaudal Trend

Head to tail" growth pattern where the head develops more rapidly than the lower body

Proximodistal Trend:

Near to far" growth pattern where the head, chest, and trunk grow ahead of extremities,

Baby Fat

Subcutaneous fat that peaks at about 9 months of age

Skeletal Age:

best estimate of an individual's physical maturity

Synaptic Pruning

The loss of synaptic connections by neurons that are seldom stimulated

Gross Motor Skills:

Control over actions that help infants move around their environment

Fine Motor Skills:

Control over smaller, precise movements,(reaching and grasping)

Intermodal Stimulation

Simultaneous input from more than one sensory modality or system (e.g., sight

Classical Conditioning:

A form of learning where a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a reflex or conditioned response

Operant Conditioning:

A learning process where behavior is strengthened or weakened by reinforcers (rewards) or punishers

Epiphyses:

Special growth centers located at the extreme ends of long bones; growth plates thin and disappear, setting the final adult bone size

Fontanels

Fontanels: Soft spots on the infant skull consisting of membranous gaps between cranial bones