Sigelman_10e_PPT_Ch04
Chapter Overview
Title: Life-Span Human Development, Chapter 4: Body, Brain, and Health
Publisher: Cengage Learning, 2022
Learning Objectives (Summary)
4.1: Endocrine system processes and growth/development.
4.2: Importance of myelination for development.
4.3: Major principles of growth.
4.4: Biopsychosociocultural model for understanding health.
4.5: Brain changes in infancy.
4.6: Newborn capabilities promoting adaptation.
4.7: Health concerns and mortality causes in infancy.
4.8: Brain lateralization implications for behavior.
4.9: Physical accomplishments and health challenges of childhood.
4.10: Creating a health-promoting environment for children.
4.11: Brain changes during adolescence and influence on behavior.
4.12: Puberty experiences in males vs. females.
4.13: Brain changes across adulthood.
4.14: Maintenance, reserve, and compensation in brain function.
4.15: Changes in reproductive system throughout adulthood.
4.16: Health disparities in adulthood.
Key Concepts
Endocrine System
Pituitary Gland: Major gland in the brain:
Triggers hormone release.
Produces growth hormone (GH).
Hormones:
Testosterone (males)
Estrogen and progesterone (females)
Thyroid hormones affect brain development and growth regulation.
Principles of Growth
Cephalocaudal Principle: Growth occurs from head to tail.
Proximodistal Principle: Development proceeds from the center of the body outward to extremities.
Orthogenetic Principle: Development starts globally and gradually differentiates into more complex functions.
Brain and Nervous System
Neurons: Basic unit of the nervous system containing dendrites, cell body, and axon.
Synaptogenesis: Formation of synapses in childhood.
Synaptic Pruning: Removal of redundant synaptic connections.
Infant Development
Rapid Growth
Infants gain:
1 ounce in weight daily
1 inch in length monthly
By age 2, they reach half of their adult height (average weight: 27-30 pounds).
Newborn Capabilities
Reflexes:
Survival Reflexes: Eyeblink, breathing.
Primitive Reflexes: Babinski response.
Infants spend 50% of sleep in REM; important for learning and memory.
Health Concerns in Infancy
Top causes of infant mortality:
Congenital malformations.
Low birth weight.
Maternal complications.
Child Development
Risk Factors for Children
Accidents: Leading cause of death; includes motor vehicle crashes.
Nutrition and Physical Activity: Body mass index (BMI) as a health marker.
Brain Lateralization in Children
Functions of the left and right hemispheres:
Left: Analytical reasoning (controls right body).
Right: Spatial and visual-motor functions (controls left body).
Adolescent Development
Puberty Changes
Biological changes leading to sexual maturity:
Increases in gray matter volume, followed by a decrease.
White matter increases with age.
Health Risks for Adolescents
High rates of risky behaviors:
Alcohol use, drug use, unprotected sex, etc.
Growth Patterns in Adolescence
Growth spurts influenced by hormones:
Differentiated peak growth ages between genders.
Adult Development
Brain Changes
Neurogenesis: Ongoing development of new neurons throughout life.
Neurocognitive Maintenance/Reserve: Importance of sustaining cognitive functions as one ages.
Changing Reproductive Systems
Menopause and the effects of aging in women.
Andropause: Gradual decrease in male testosterone levels affecting mood and physical capabilities.
Health and Wellness in Older Adults
Common impairments like arthritis and hypertension are prevalent in those over 70.
Osteoporosis: Leads to high fracture risk; one-third of elderly who fracture a hip may die within a year.
Importance of exercise for maintaining health and delaying disability.
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Chapter Highlights
Importance of understanding physical and cognitive growth through lifespan.
Impacts of environmental factors on health, including cultural considerations.