PSY10004 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Romanian Orphans, Intellectual Disability, Teratology

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PSYCHOLOGY 101 - PSY10004
WEEK 2
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY!
The focus of developmental psychology is on how humans develop and change over time. !
Change can occur across the entire life span of the person (conception to death). Developmental
psychology assumes that change is inevitable.!
Critical Periods!
The critical period concept suggests that the brain is set to acquire a function during a limited
period of time. !
If key experiences do not occur during a critical period, the function may not develop or may not
ever become fully developed. — e.g. imprinting in goslings to follow during the first two hours of
life.!
Examples!
Vision: Visual deprivation in monkeys, kittens- problems in using vision to explore environment,
visual centres of brain do not develop- Humans- need both eyes focusing on same point- if not
corrected - do not develop Stereopsis !
Language development in humans must occur before puberty or there will be lasting deficits
(the case of Genie)!
Sensitive Periods!
The term sensitive period is used to emphasise that certain periods are more important for
subsequent development than others but are more open to possibility of remediation at a later
date.!
Example!
Infants in Romanian orphanages-( Rutter et al.,2004)-longer in deprived environment less likely to
catch up cognitively-even among orphans who arrived well-nourished a major correlate of time
spent in institution was below-average head size: implies lack of stimulation impeded brain
development. (First two years- highly sensitive period of life).!
Brain Development!
During first two years major formation of synapses in auditory, visual and language areas- frontal
lobes responsible for thought more extended growth period. !
Need stimulation for neural connections to survive- those that are not stimulated are pruned-first
two years critical as when most of connections are forming !
Myelination: coating of neural fibres with insulating fatty sheath- improves eciency of message
transfer- myelination rapid during first two years of life !
These developments responsible for growth in brain size: at birth 30% of adult weight, by 2 years-
70% of adult weight and 6 years- 90%.!
Brain Plasticity!
In infants and young children, parts of brain are not yet specialised !
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Recover better from brain injury !
Language recovers better than spatial skills !
Still have some problems with complex mental skills-as require considerable space to
perform !
Older children, even adults, have some plasticity!
Physical Development!
PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT
Germinal Period !
-the fertilised egg (zygote) enters a 2 week period of rapid cell division !
Embryonic Period !
-the developing human organism (embryo) from 2 weeks through 2nd month !
Foetal Period !
-the developing human organism (foetus) from 9 weeks after conception to birth!
Teratogens
Teratogens are environmental agents that harm the embryo or foetus which include drugs,
radiation, viruses, chemicals !
Foetal Alcohol Syndrome: Occurs when the foetus is exposed to alcohol and can result in
physical and mental disabilities !
Rubella: Can lead to deafness and mental retardation!
Critical Periods & Teratogen Exposure!
Period of the Zygote before implantation -7-9 days after conception-teratogens rarely have
impact- if they do - mass of cells damaged -dies-first two weeks about 30% of zygotes do not
survive. !
Embryonic period-after implantation until 8th week placenta and umbilical chord grow and
delivers blood to embryo and takes away waste products !
-Teratogens-Most harmful during these weeks of pregnancy !
-Often before women know they are pregnant !
-During these weeks groundwork is laid for all major body structures and organs !
Foetal period- teratogen damage usually minor-but organs such as brain, eyes, genitals can be
aected.!
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Foetal Alcohol Syndrome
Full syndrome-mental retardation, impaired motor coordination, attention, memory and language
impairments, hyperactivity-plus slow physical growth, facial abnormalities- result of mother
drinking heavily throughout most of pregnancy!
Even 1 drink a day is associated with FAS-like facial features, and reduced head size when infants
followed into adolescence!
POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT
Infant Reflexes
Reflexes are innate motor responses elicited by critical stimuli and are sometimes adaptive !
Examples of infant reflexes: !
Rooting reflex: A touch on the cheek induces the infant to move its mouth toward the source
of the touch (helps guide feeding) !
Sucking reflex: Tactile stimulation of the mouth produces rhythmic sucking!
!
Premature Babies
Infant stimulation originally thought harmful, but if modulated correctly can be highly beneficial !
Rocking in hammocks, waterbeds that simulate rocking motion in uterus; visual mobiles,
heartbeat recordings, soft music, mother’s voice !
Stimulation found to promote faster weight gain, more predictable sleep patterns, greater
alertness!
Touch — especially important, animal studies-releases brain chemicals that support physical
growth-massage- gained weight, more advanced in mental and motor coord.-at end of first
year!
Kangaroo care can provide some of these eects and stimulate development !
Need to adjust stimulation to level premature babies can cope with- more organised brain
functioning two weeks later- and greater motor, cognitive and emotional maturity at 9 months.!
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