What is a zygote?
A fertilized egg cell.
What is the placenta?
The outer cells of the zygote that provide nourishment and oxygen to the developing embryo/fetus.
What is an embryo?
The developing human organism after the zygote attaches to the uterine wall.
What is a fetus?
The developing human organism from nine weeks until birth.
What are teratogens?
Harmful substances (viruses, drugs) that can negatively affect prenatal development.
What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)?
A condition caused by heavy alcohol consumption during pregnancy, resulting in abnormal facial features, low birth weight, and developmental delays.
What is habituation?
The process by which infants become familiar with stimuli, and their responses decrease over time.
What is the rooting reflex?
The reflex that causes a newborn to turn their head and open their mouth when their cheek is touched.
What is the Moro reflex?
Also known as the startle reflex, it involves the baby throwing out their arms and legs and then bringing them back in.
What is maturation?
Orderly physical and cognitive development.
What is pruning in brain development?
The process by which neural networks that are frequently used are strengthened, while unused ones shut down.
What is infantile amnesia?
The lack of memory for events before age 3.
How can FAS be prevented?
By avoiding alcohol during pregnancy.
How is habituation observed in newborns?
Infants become familiar with stimuli, and their responses decrease over time, showing they are learning.
How is the rooting reflex helpful for newborns?
It helps them find food by turning their head and opening their mouth when their cheek is touched.
How does neural development foster physical development?
Muscle control develops as the nervous system matures.
How does the brain prioritize development in infancy?
Reflexive functions develop first, followed by higher-level processing in the cerebrum and forebrain.
How can understanding infantile amnesia help parents?
It helps them understand why children may not remember events from their early childhood.
How does a mother's voice affect the fetus?
Fetuses can hear and become accustomed to their mother's voice, showing preference after birth.
How does the sucking reflex help newborns?
Enables drawing milk or fluids into the mouth.
How does the Moro reflex help newborns?
Startle reflex; arms and legs extend then retract (another evolutionary holdover).
How does the Babinski reflex help newborns?
Toes curl and fan out when the sole of the foot is stroked (evolutionary holdover).
What is the effect of teratogens on prenatal development?
They can negatively affect development, causing physical abnormalities, cognitive impairments, or developmental delays.
What are the effects of heavy alcohol consumption during pregnancy?
It can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), resulting in abnormal facial features, low birth weight, and developmental delays.
What is the effect of a mother's health and nutrition on the fetus?
It directly impacts the fetus, with prenatal vitamins being crucial for healthy development.
What is the effect of habituation on infant behavior?
Infants become familiar with stimuli, and their responses decrease over time, showing they are learning.
What is the effect of using neural networks frequently?
Neural networks that are frequently used are strengthened.
What is the effect of unused neural networks?
Unused neural networks shut down through pruning.
What is the effect of brain development on motor skills?
Muscle control develops as the nervous system matures.
What is the effect of the rooting reflex?
Helps find food by turning their head and opening their mouth when their cheek is touched.
What is the effect of the Moro reflex?
Startle reflex; arms and legs extend then retract (another evolutionary holdover).
What is the effect of the Babinski reflex?
Toes curl and fan out when the sole of the foot is stroked (evolutionary holdover).
