PSY 213 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Moro Reflex, 18 Months, Visual Acuity
Document Summary
Infancy: birth through 18-24 months; time of rapid growth & development. Brain development: neurons- nerve cells that store and transmit information in the brain, 100-200 billion neurons, cerebral cortex: responsible for many higher functions. In response, the infant turns its head toward the side that was touched in an apparent effort to find something to suck: sucking reflex: occurs when newborns automatically suck an object placed in their mouth. Blinking stimulation: flash of light, puff of air. Infant"s response: closes both eyes; developmental pattern: permanent. Infant"s response: fan out toes, twists foot in; developmental pattern: disappears after 9 months to 1 year. Infant"s response: grasps tightly; developmental pattern: weakens after 3 months, disappears after 1 year. Moro (startle) stimulation: sudden stimulation, such as hearing loud noise or being dropped. Infant"s response: startles, arches back, throws head back, flings out arms and legs and then rapidly closes them to center of body; developmental pattern: disappears after 3-4 months.
