PSYC 001 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Synaptic Pruning, Rhesus Macaque
Document Summary
We have big heads when we"re born. 25% of adult size, 5% of adult size when born. As newborns, our big heads can not handle our bodies. We"re able to slowly become physically independent throughout the ages of 2-15 months. A baby can see up to 20 feet, but see very poorly. We have no visual stimuli in the womb, so visual development only occurs outside of it. Depth can be perceived by crawling age. Motor development: body and movement, how well we coordinate our muscular control and movement, prone, chest up, use arms for support. Lots of brain development towards end of pregnancy. This is also when pregnant women get sick most easily. It is an adaptation so that the pregnant do not risk introducing to babies hazardous things. New neurons grow rapidly until age 2. Unused neurons die off, but they are repurposed for other things if that part of the brain doesn"t get stimulated.
