PSY100H1 Lecture 7: Lecture 7- March 5.rtf
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PSY100H1 Full Course Notes
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Document Summary
Zygote (fertilized egg) starts dividing, doubles, forms a. Blastocyst that keeps growing as cells continue to divide for the first 1. 5 weeks or so after fertilization. 2nd-8th week: embryo (limbs take shape, cells start to specialize. ) 2nd month-birth: fetus (development after all major organs are established, physical maturation is the primary change) Huge neuron development between 19th day after fertilization and end of 7th month. Myelinated axons form synapses with more neurons than infant brain will use. Synaptic pruning occurs- process where the frequently used synaptic connections are preserved, those that aren"t are lost. The embryo is especially susceptible to teratogens (any agent that causes a birth defect because it cannot be filtered out by the placenta) Teratogens can affect size, behaviour, intelligence/reasoning, health, language, organs, limbs . Infants are born with an immature visual system (~20/300) Learns with experience and making connections with monocular cues. Other senses function from day 1 but still require development.
