Chapter 6: Exploration of Sensation, Perception, and Movement in Developmental Medicine

Sensation

response of a sensory organ when detecting a stimulus

Perception

when the brain is conscious of a sensation/idea

Precocial

senses and motor skills are developed at birth; newborn can immediately see, hear, smell, and move as an older infant would

Altricial

senses and motor skills do not develop until days/months after birth; requires significant parental care

Binocular Vision

coordinating both eyes to see one image

Cross-Modal Sensations

when a sensation from one mode (ex. hearing) is also experienced in another mode (ex. vision)

Synesthesia

when one sense triggers another (two modes are fused as one)

Proprioception

sense of body position (stationary and movement)

Presbycusis

age related hearing loss

Presbyopia

age related visual loss; result of conditions that become more common with age (cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration)

Cataracts

surface covering on eye's lens that clouds vision; decreasing light that reaches retina

Glaucoma

increased fluid in eye; damages retina and optic nerve

Macular Degeneration

loss of functioning in the macula of the eye; results in blind spots

Gross Motor Skills

physical abilities involving large body movements

Fine Motor Skills

physical abilities involving small body movements, especially of the hands and fingers

Rough-and-Tumble Play

play that seems to be rough, but in which there is no intent to harm

Embodied Cognition

idea/concept expressed in the body as well as with words (connection between mind and body)

Why do newborns (just a few hours old) listen more carefully to their mother's than the voice of strangers?

newborns have been exposed to mother's voice in the womb, allowing them to recognize and prefer it; creates early bond/sense of security

Why do newborns have poor visual perception?

lack of prenatal experience; there is nothing much for the fetus to see (only sensation present)

Why are many newborns "cross-eyed?"

binocular vision cannot develop in the womb (cannot see distant sights); thus newborns use their two eyes independently

Why is touch is "experience-dependent" across cultures?

social norms/expectations regarding contact vary significantly between societies, shaping how people interpret and respond to touch based on learned cultural practice

Why do newborns prefer their mother's diet?

newborns swallowed mother's diet as amniotic fluid; learns to like breast milk with flavors of mother's diet

Kangaroo Care

example of cross-modal sensation; skin-to-skin contact (hear mother's heartbeat, touches skin, sees face, smells scent, tastes milk)

Describe the effects of age on eyeball shape.

shape changes from convex in adolescence to concave in middle age; farsightedness & eye muscles to longer change shape of lens to allow near focus

What is the importance of touch in later years?

reduce sense of isolation, mitigate pain, and confirm affection (therapeutic touch)

How can changes in taste and smell affect life and health?

reduced appetite (weight loss); adding more sugar/salt when taste fades; smell is designed to prevent toxins - can be dangerous

Does the sense of pain become more or less significant in later life?

suggested that sense of pain decreases with age; people become better able to tolerate them as minor aches/pains increase with age

Reflex to Maintain Body Temperature

infants cry, shiver, and tuck their legs when cold; push away blankets and stay still when hot

Sucking Reflex

infant reflex in which the infant starts sucking when his or her lips are stroked

Rooting Reflex

infant's response in turning toward the source of touching that occurs anywhere around his or her mouth

Swallowing reflex

reflex that enables the newborn baby to swallow liquids without choking

Crying Reflex

a newborn reflex that is triggered when the newborn is hungry or wants attention

Babinski reflex

Reflex in which a newborn fans out the toes when the sole of the foot is touched

stepping reflex

when newborns are held upright, feet touching a flat surface, they move their legs as if to walk

Swimming reflex

when held horizontally on their stomachs, newborns stretch out their arms and legs

Palmar grasping reflex

When something touches infants' palms, they grip it tightly

Moro Reflex

Infant reflex where a baby will startle in response to a loud sound or sudden movement

Explain: "throughout childhood, play with peers is the foundation for development of the senses and motor skills."

they are actively using/refining sensory abilities and physical movement skills via interactive experiences with those with similar stages of senses/motor skills