The document summarizes key topics in motor, sensory, and perceptual development across the lifespan. In infancy, reflexes and gross motor skills emerge as infants explore their environment. Vision develops from a "blooming buzzing confusion" to the ability to perceive patterns, depth, and visual expectations. Hearing also matures in infancy. In childhood and beyond, fine motor skills increase while some senses gradually decline with age. Motor, sensory, and perceptual abilities are shaped through dynamic interactions between biological factors and environmental experiences.

1. A Topical Approach to LIFE-SPAN DEVELOPMENT John W. Santrock Chapter Five: Motor, Sensory, and Perceptual Development

2. Dynamic Systems View Dynamic systems theory Infants assemble motor skills for perceiving and acting (perceptions and actions are coupled) Motivation creates new behaviors Perceptions “fine tunes” movements with repetitive actions Infants explore and select possible solutions of new task; assembles adaptive patterns

3. Dynamic Systems View Dynamic systems theory Constraints of possible actions and skills Infants body/mind maturation Environmental support Not a passive process Genes do not dictate unfolding sequence of skills

4. Reflexes Built-in reactions to stimuli Govern newborn’s movements Genetically carried survival mechanisms Allow adaptation to environment Provides opportunity to learn Some disappear (e.g., grasping), some last throughout life (e.g., coughing)

5. Reflexes Reflexes Description Sucking Automatic sucking object placed in newborn’s mouth Rooting Reaction when infant’s cheek is stroked or side of mouth touched Moro Startle response in reaction to sudden, intense noise or movement Grasping Occurs when something touches infant’s palms; infant response is to grasp tightly

6. Gross Motor Skills Involve large-muscle activities Foundations for development Posture; linked to sensory information for Regulating balance/equilibrium Vision and hearing Self-control increases with infant age Linked to neural pathway development Improved by repetitive movements

7. Gross Motor Skills Infancy Development of posture Locomotion and crawling Learning to walk Caregivers important Safety of child and environment during efforts First year: developmental milestones Timing of onset varies

8. Gross Motor Skills Second year More accomplishments; increased independence Initiates more interaction with others Still need safety restrictions on movements Parent/caregiver involvement Encourage/guide child’s development Structured exercise not recommended Cultural variations exist

9. Fig. 5.3 Milestones in Gross Motor Development

10. Gross Motor Skills Childhood Improved movements; more mastery, confidence Boys usually outperform girls Extended periods of paying attention, sitting still More fatigued from extended inactivity Benefit more from exercise breaks Organized sports best for development Positive and negatives consequences

11. Gross Motor Skills Childhood Organized sports best for development Provide opportunities to learn how to compete Improves self-esteem Opportunities for peer relations/friendships Reduces risk of becoming obese Three or more hours per week beyond school

12. Gross Motor Skills Childhood Organized sports can have negative experiences Pressure to win or achieve Risk of physical injuries Distraction from academic work Unrealistic expectations for success Impacted by professional sports and media Dangers of exploitation

13. Guidelines for Parents and Coaches of Children in Sports Do Don’t Make sports fun Yell or scream at child Mistakes are okay Continue condemning Allow questions Point out errors in front of others Show calm manner Expect instant learning Respect child’s participation Expect child to be a pro Be positive role model Make fun of the child Be supportive Compare child to others Make sports all work

14. Gross Motor Skills Adolescence Skills continue to improve Adulthood Peak physical performance before age 30 Often between ages 19 and 26 After age 30; biological functions decline Not uniform; organ decline varies

15. Gross Motor Skills Late Adulthood Decreased activity level linked to biological and psychological health Natural aging leads to gradual deterioration Lifestyle habits/patterns have impact Physical activity has more positive effects than educational intervention

16. Fig. 5.4 Movement and Aging

17. Fine Motor Skills Infancy Involves more finely tuned movements, such as finger dexterity Reaching and grasping Size, shape, and texture of object matter Experience affects vision, perceptions, skills Exercising of skills, safety are important Palmar grasp, pincer grip at end of first year

18. Fine Motor Skills Childhood and adolescence By age 3; ability to stack/balance objects Precision increases with age; show desire to build projects — needs adult guidance to complete Linked to increased myelination of CNS Hands, coordination improve Begin to show manipulative skills of adults by age 12 Musical instruments, fine quality crafts

19. Fine Motor Skills Adult development Skills may decline in middle and late adulthood Dexterity decreases In healthy adults, functional skills are good Pathological conditions may result in weakness of paralysis of hands Competent handwriting into old age

20. Fine Motor Skills Older Adult development Slowed movements due to Neural noise: interference with incoming stimuli Strategy: ability to perform as usual Compensation by engaging in other strategies Capable of learning new motor tasks; usually perform slower than young adults

21. Sensory and Perceptual Sensation Information (stimuli) processed by sensory receptors Eyes ( retina, optic nerve ), ears ( cochlea, auditory nerve ), tongue, nose, skin Perception What is perceived (interpreted) from stimuli

22. Sensory and Perceptual Ecological view Perceptual system selects which information to process from environment Guides active/interactive behaviors Affordances Opportunities to interact with objects within one’s capabilities Adaptation: combining of perceptions and actions

23. Sensory and Perceptual Infant perception testing Visual preference method To determine if infants can distinguish between various stimuli Habituation : decreased response to stimuli Dishabituation : recovery of habituated response High-amplitude sucking: nipple sucking rate indicates preferences/discriminatory abilities

24. Sensory and Perceptual Infant perception testing Orienting response Tracking by moving head or eyes to follow moving object or sounds Use of startle response — reaction to noise Equipment used Video recorders, computers, recorders of bodily functions (heart rate, etc.)

25. Sensory and Perceptual Visual perception Variances due to differences in how eyes function over time (colors, distances, light presence) Infancy: world is “blooming, buzzing confusion” Visual acuity increases with age Preference for human faces soon after birth Discriminates female from male at 3 months

26. Infants’ Visual Perception Visual Acuity 20/600 at birth, near adult levels by 1 year Color Sees some colors by 2 months, has preferences by 4 months Perceiving Patterns Prefer patterns at birth; face scanning improves by 2 months Depth Perception Developed by 7-8 months Visual Expectations Begins by 4 months; all know visual cliff by 6-to-12 months

27. Sensory and Perceptual Visual perception Perceptual constancy Physical world perceptions remain constant Size constancy Recognition that object remains the same even though the retinal image changes Shape constancy Recognition that object remains the same even though its orientation changes

28. Sensory and Perceptual Visual perception Depth perception Visual cliff experiments Perceptions affected by experiences Debate over affect of nature versus nurture

29. Sensory and Perceptual Childhood Improved color detection, visual expectations, controlling eye movements (for reading) Preschoolers may be farsighted Signs of vision problems Rubbing eyes, blinking, squinting Irritability at games requiring distance vision Closing one eye, tilting head to see, thrusting head forward to see

30. Sensory and Perceptual Adulthood and aging Loss of Accommodation — presbyopia Decreased blood supply to eye — smaller visual field, increased blind spot Slower dark adaptation , decline in motion sensitivity Declining color vision: green-blue-violet Declining depth perception — problems with steps or curbs

31. Fig. 5.12 Glare Vision and Aging

32. Sensory and Perceptual Diseases of the eyes Cataracts : thickening eye lens that causes vision to become cloudy, opaque, distorted Glaucoma : damage to optic nerve because of pressure created by buildup of fluid in eye Macular degeneration : involves deterioration of retina

33. Hearing Fetus, Infant, and child Fetus hears in last months before birth Newborns/Infants: Loudness : cannot hear soft sounds well Less sensitive to pitch ; sensitive to human speech Localization : distinguish general direction of sound origination

34. Hearing Fetus, Infant, and child Most children’s hearing is adequate Early screening in infancy for problems Hearing loss corrections: Surgery, hearing aids, cochlear implants Otitis media: middle ear infection Unattended results in hearing loss, language development, socialization Treatments: antibiotics, tubes in ears

35. Hearing Adolescence Most have excellent hearing Risks for loss: loud/maximum volume music Adulthood Decline begins about age 40; other factors impact Males lose sensitivity to high-pitched sounds sooner than females Gender differences: due to occupation? Treatments: hearing aids, cochlear implants

36. Other Senses Touch and pain Newborns: sensitivity to pain, touch Circumcision of boys; amazing resiliency Use of anesthesia in surgery is controversial Adulthood: most research on old age Touch sensitivity: decreases in old age Smell: Decline can start in 20s; declines with age/health Affects satisfaction with life, food

37. Other Senses Taste Fetus: sensitivity present before birth Newborns: facial reactions to various tastes Infants: reference for “salty” tastes at 4 mos. Older adults: decline in ability to distinguish sour, sweet, and bitter solutions Severity affected by medications and health Seasoned food preferences lead to junk food

38. Other Senses Intermodal perception Ability to relate and integrate information about two or more sensory modalities, such as vision and hearing Exists in newborns; sharpens with experience in first year

39. Perceptual-Motor Coupling Distinction between perceiving and doing? Controversial for some researchers Explores how people assemble motor behaviors for perceiving and acting Babies coordinate movements with perceptual information to maintain balance, reach for objects, etc. Driving a car is coupling; declines in late adulthood

40. The End