Motor, Sensory, and Perceptual Development

Flashcards on Motor, Sensory, and Perceptual Development

Dynamic systems theory

Infants assemble motor skills for perceiving and acting, behaviors are tuned with repetition, result of body's physical properties, nervous system development, child's goals, and environmental support

Reflexes

Allows infants to respond adaptively to the environment before they have had the opportunity to learn.

Rooting reflex

When an infant’s cheek is stroked or the side of the mouth is touched, the infant turns its head and tries to find something to suck.

Sucking reflex

Occurs when infants suck an object placed in their mouth and enables the infant to get nourishment before it associates a nipple with food.

Moro reflex

A startle response to sudden, intense noise or movement where newborns arch their back, throw back their head, and fling out their arms and legs, then rapidly close them.

Grasping reflex

Infants tightly grasp any object placed in their palm.

Gross motor skills

Involve large-muscle activities, such as moving one’s arms or walking, and requires postural control.

Palmer grasp

Grasp with whole hand.

Pincer grip

Grasp small objects with thumb and forefinger.

Sensation

Reaction that occurs when information interacts with sensory receptors (eyes, ears, tongue, nostrils, and skin).

Perception

The interpretation of what is sensed and gives meaning to specific color or shape or pattern.

Affordances

Opportunities for interaction offered by objects that fit within our capabilities to perform activities.

Perceptual Narrowing

Distinguishing between known faces and new faces; experience plays a role.

Size constancy

Recognition that an object remains the same even though the retinal image changes as you move toward or away from the object.

Shape constancy

Recognition that an object remains the same shape even though its orientation to us changes.

Cataracts

A thickening of the lens of the eye, causes vision to become cloudy, opaque, and distorted, and results in partial loss of vision by the age of 70 for about 30% of people.

Glaucoma

Damage to the optic nerve due to pressure created by fluid buildup in the eye.

Macular degeneration

Causes deterioration of the macula of the retina, which corresponds to the focal center of the visual field.

Intermodal perception

The ability to integrate information about two or more sensory modalities, such as vision or hearing.