Physical Development in Infancy + Toddlerhood - I

Developmental Psych ch5

Cephalocaudal Trend

Head develops rapidly at first; rest of the body catches up later

Proximodistal Trend

Center of the body develops first followed by limbs

Synaptic Pruning

Stimulated neurons become strengthened; unstimulated neurons lose synapses

Glial Cells

Support neurons; create myelin

Cerebral Cortex

Outer layer of brain (85% of brain’s weight; contains greatest number of neurons and synapses)

Prefrontal Cortex

Responsible for thought, impulse control, planning, problem solving, reasoning, etc.

Lateralization of Cortex

left is responsible for verbal tasks

right is responsible for spatial tasks

may be reversed or less noticeable in lefties

Brain Plasticity

Areas of the brain not yet specialized to a specific function

high capacity for change and learning

Experience-Expectant brain growth

Growth in response to ordinary experiences

exploring environment, hearing language/sounds

Experience-Dependant brain growth

Growth and refinement in response to specific learning experiences

varies across cultures

Marasum

condition caused by diet low in most or all nutrients

Kwashiorkor

condition caused by diet low in protein

Habituation

gradual reduction of response to repeated stimulation

Recovery

New stimulus causes high level of response

Gross-Motor Development

sitting, crawling, walking

Fine-Motor Development

grasping, drawing

Dynamic Systems Theory

Motor development involves increasingly complex system of action

Dynamic Systems Theory Factors

CNS Development

Body’s Movement Capacity

Goals - baby has desire

Environmental Support