Physical, Sensory, and Perceptual Development in Infancy

These flashcards cover key concepts in physical, sensory, and perceptual development during infancy, as outlined in the lecture notes.

Midbrain

Part of the brain stem that processes visual and auditory information, regulates alertness, arousal, and movement.

Medulla

Part of the brainstem that regulates autonomic functions such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain involved in memory, perception, cognition, and language, and is least developed at birth.

Synaptogenesis

The process of synapse development in the brain.

Synaptic pruning

The process by which unused or unnecessary neural pathways are eliminated.

Neuroplasticity

The ability of the brain to reorganize itself in response to experiences.

Myelination

The process of developing myelin sheaths to insulate axons and improve electrical conductivity.

Reflex

An unlearned and automatic response to a stimulus, which can be adaptive or primitive.

Crying

An infant's response that differs for various issues and can serve as a diagnostic tool.

Locomotor skills

Gross motor skills such as crawling and walking.

Infant States of Consciousness

Different states in which infants cycle through, including deep sleep, light sleep, and alert wakefulness.

Depth Perception

The ability to perceive distance and three-dimensionality, developed through various types of cues.

Intermodal Perception

The ability to use one sensory modality to identify stimuli familiar through another modality.

Nativism

The belief that perceptual abilities are inborn.

Empiricism

The belief that perceptual abilities are learned through experience.