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:

  1. Congenital malformations.

  2. Low birth weight.

  3. 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.