PSYC 223 - Physical Development: Birth, Motor Skills, and Growth

Perinatal Period

The period from around 20 weeks of gestation to a few weeks after childbirth

• birth typically occurs at 38 weeks

At-risk Babies

Babies who have a higher likelihood of experiencing cognitive and social problems and developmental delays

Anoxia

The difficulty of initiating or maintaining breathing

Preterm-born Babies

Babies born before the 38th week of pregnancy

• risks of breathing difficulties and brain hemorrhage

• less mature brain patterns

• disorganized and difficult to soothe

• more frequent problems with growth and overall health issues

• greater risk for cognitive and behavioral problems in later childhood and adolescence

Small for Gestational Age

Defined as a birth weight of less than the 10th percentile (bottom 10%)

• difficult arousal, poor muscle tone, limp appearance

• poorer recognition memory

• poorer performance on verbal tests of IQ (preschool)

Apgar Test

An exam administered immediately after birth that assesses vital functions, such as heart rate and respiration.

• assessment right after birth and 5 minutes after

• Dr. Virginia Apgar

Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS)

A test that assesses infants’ attention, social responsiveness, muscle tone, physical movement, control of alertness, and physiological response to stress.

• tested between 3 days to 4 weeks old

• also examines the effects of prematurity, low birthweight, undernutrition, and a range of pre- and perinatal risk factors

• T. Berry Brazelton

Premature Stereotyping

The expectation of negative behavior from premature infants even months after birth.

• can actually increase the possibility that a negative cycle between parent and infant will be set in motion

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep

The stage of sleep when dreams occur and the eyes move rapidly back and forth

Primitive Reflexes

Reflex actions originating in the central nervous system that are exhibited by normal infants, but not neurologically healthy adults, in response to particular stimuli.

• suppressed by the development of the frontal lobes as a infant undergoes normal childhood development

Rooting Reflex

A reflex in response to a stroke or touch of the corner of a baby’s mouth, causing the baby to turn to the direction of the stroke or touch, to help the baby start breast or bottle feeding.

Palmar Grasp Reflex

A reflex in response to an object in the palms, causing a strong grip.

• disappearance of the reflex can be attributed to conscious and voluntary hand use

• absence or prolonged persistence of the reflex can indicate damage in parts of the nervous system

Moro Reflex

A reflex in response to a sudden loss of support and involves a spread of the arms, a pull of the arms in, and crying

Walking/Stepping Reflex

A reflex in response to the soles of the infant’s feet touching a flat surface, causing the infant to attempt to walk by placing one foot in front of the other

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

A reflex that allows the infant to make the transition from laying down to getting up on hands and knees

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)

A reflex where when the infant’s head is turned to one side, the infant assumes a fencing position

Babinski Reflex

A reflex where an upwards stroke of the infant’s sole will cause the toes to fan out and curl

Babkin Reflex

A reflex where light pressure to the infant’s palms will cause the head to rotate and the mouth to open

• important for breastfeeding

Congenitally Organized Behaviors

Early behaviors of newborns that do not require specific external stimulation and that show more adaptability than simple reflex.

• gradually fine-tuned by the infant to more effectively explore and control the physical and social world

Postural Development

The increasing ability of the baby to control parts of its body, especially the head and trunk

Prehension

The ability to grasp and manipulate objects with the hands

Proximodistal Development

The tendency of body parts to develop in a trunk-to-extremities direction

Cephalocaudal Development

The tendency of body parts to mature in a head-to-foot progression

Dynamic System Theory

A theory that describes the development of motor skills in which infants who are motivated to accomplish task create a new motor behavior from their available physical abilities.

• infants make up their own behavior

• Esther Thelen

Catch-up Growth

Accelerated growth that follows a period of delayed or stunted growth resulting from disease or malnutrition

Fetal Distress

A condition of abnormal stress on the fetus, reflected during the birth process in an abnormal fetal heart rate

Skeletal Maturity (Bone Age)

The degree of maturation of an individual as indicated by the extent of hardening of the bones