PSY 240 Study Guide - Final Guide: Low Birth Weight, Synaptic Pruning, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Document Summary
Zygote (1-2)- conception to the attachment to uterine wall. Embryo (2-8)- groundwork laid for most organs and body systems (sensitive period of development) Maternal age is positively correlated with birth complications. Nutrition- gain 25-30 lbs, vitamin/mineral enrichment is crucial. Disease, drug, or environmental agents that can cause damage during prenatal development (ex. Examples include drugs, tobacco, radiation, environmental pollution, infectious diseases. Alcohol causes fasd (umbrella term for alcohol related diagnoses. Fetal alcohol syndrome (fas)- most severe and visibly identifiable form. Unlearned response to specific forms of stimulation. Consistent styles or patterns of an individual"s behavior. Successful brain development requires stimulation from environment. Synapses- dendrites sprout (peaks around first birthday), synaptic pruning occurs and become more efficient. Piaget-children understand the world through schemas (psychological structures that organize experience) Information processing theory- thinking is based on mental hardware (built in systems and neural structures), mental software (mental programs that serve the basis for how to perform mental tasks-- we are like computers!
