Infancy (Part 1)

The Developing Brain & Nervous System The Neuron Basic component of the Nervous System Number Between 100 & 200 Billion at birth Growth rate: 250,000 per minute Synaptic pruning Myelin Fatty tissue covering the axon Associated with critical periods

The Neuron

Basic component of the Nervous System

Number

Between 100 & 200 Billion at birth

Growth rate: 250,000 per minute

Synaptic pruning

Myelin

Fatty tissue covering the axon

Associated with critical periods

Brain Development Plasticity The Degree that the brain is modified by experience Sensitive Period A time in development when the organism is susceptible to environmental influences in relating to some particular facet of development Influence on the Environment Greater stimulation produces greater growth

Plasticity

The Degree that the brain is modified by experience

Sensitive Period

A time in development when the organism is susceptible to environmental influences in relating to some particular facet of development

Influence on the Environment

Greater stimulation produces greater growth

Rhythms of Living Sleep & Wakefulness Sleeps 16 – 18 hours per day Sleep is in fits & starts REM Sleep Brain waves are different than adults REM sleep in infants is not associated with dreaming

Sleep & Wakefulness

Sleeps 16 – 18 hours per day

Sleep is in fits & starts

REM Sleep

Brain waves are different than adults

REM sleep in infants is not associated with dreaming

Motor Development Reflexes Occur automatically with a stimulus Rooting, sucking, stepping, Moro, Babinski, startle, eye-blink, gag, swimming Motor Skills Gross Motor Skills Involves large muscle groups Fine Motor Skills Involves smaller muscle groups Dynamic Systems Theory Motor behaviors are “assembled” into coordinated groups of muscles, perceptions, nervous systems activations, and motivation all carried out at the same time

Reflexes

Occur automatically with a stimulus

Rooting, sucking, stepping, Moro, Babinski, startle, eye-blink, gag, swimming

Motor Skills

Gross Motor Skills

Involves large muscle groups

Fine Motor Skills

Involves smaller muscle groups

Dynamic Systems Theory

Motor behaviors are “assembled” into coordinated groups of muscles, perceptions, nervous systems activations, and motivation all carried out at the same time

Nutrition & Motor Development Malnutrition Having an improper amount & balance of nutrients Has negative results Slower growth rate Lower IQ Kwashiorkor Obesity Weight greater than 20% above the average for a given height

Malnutrition

Having an improper amount & balance of nutrients

Has negative results

Slower growth rate

Lower IQ

Kwashiorkor

Obesity

Weight greater than 20% above the average for a given height

Feeding Breastfeeding Has advantages Appropriate nutrition Immunity Easily digested Can help cognitive growth Weaning Cultural variations Some wean as early as 3 - 4 months, others 3 – 4 years Recommended to breastfeed for the 1 st year

Breastfeeding

Has advantages

Appropriate nutrition

Immunity

Easily digested

Can help cognitive growth

Weaning

Cultural variations

Some wean as early as 3 - 4 months, others 3 – 4 years

Recommended to breastfeed for the 1 st year

Development of the Senses Visual Perception Neonate can see only about 1 foot Minutes after birth shows preferences for certain stimuli Within a few hours prefers mother’s face Auditory Perception Able to hear prior to birth Prefers mother’s voice Smell & Taste Strong sense of smell & taste Pain & Touch Painful stimuli produce physical & emotional responses

Visual Perception

Neonate can see only about 1 foot

Minutes after birth shows preferences for certain stimuli

Within a few hours prefers mother’s face

Auditory Perception

Able to hear prior to birth

Prefers mother’s voice

Smell & Taste

Strong sense of smell & taste

Pain & Touch

Painful stimuli produce physical & emotional responses