Lecture 3Developmental PsychologyPrenatal Development and NewbornsPSY 240 1st Edition Lecture 3Developmental PsychologyPrenatal Development and NewbornsFetal learning : Are we capable of learning at birth? Can we learn before we are born?-habituation: decreased responsiveness to repeated, continuous stimulation.-fatal habituation by about 30 weeks-learning based on sensory experiencesFetal sensationsight: fetoscope studies-26 weeks: eyelids open-hard to fully study in womb; what about premature births?-31-32 weeks: visual focus, horizontal & vertical trackingtouch: 8 weeks: sensitivity to stroke on cheek -genital area (10 weeks)-palms (11 weeks)-soles of feet (12 weeks)-abdomen (17 weeks)-entire body (32 weeks)taste: Taste Buds developed by 14 weeks-sweet increasing swallowing-bitter, sour decreased swallowing-ex.: pregnant mother eats anise (licorice)baby orients to smellsmell: old assumption: no air= no olfactionThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.-nose development: 11-15 weeks-ex. Average of 120 odiferous chemicals in amniotic fluidhearing: recording inside womb-muffled, internalized mother’s voice-16 weeks movement in response to sounds-ears not fully developed until 24 weeks-vibrations? (hearing as sense of touch?)-ex.: fetal heart rate increases when hearing mon’s voice, decrease for other womansDeCasper& Spence (1986): Cat in the Hat study-Few hours after birth: babies fitted with headphones, pacifier-like device-speed of pacifier sucking= hearing mother’s voice vs. another woman-chose speed that produced mom’s voice!IV: pregnant women read Cat in the Hat aloud 2x daily for 6 weeks before giving birth DV: newborns chose speed that produced mom’s Cat in the Hat, rather than another storyresults: newborn prefer momNo solid, reliable evidence that extra prenatal stimulation faster, better developmentThreats to Prenatal DevelopmentEnvironmentteratogens: external agents that can harm a developing embryo/fetus (drugs, disease, etc)-individual variability in responses to teratogens-most defects can be caused by multiple teratogens-most teratogens can cause a variety of defects-teratogens effects sometimes depend on postnatal environment-effects on body parts worst when part is forming, growing most rapidly- sensitive period: period of development during which a teratogen is most harmfulTeratogens: Illegal drugs: -some correlated with physical defects (ex. Cocaine)-3rd variables?--> malnourishment, likely to use other teratogens-many correlated with miscarriage, premature birth, early infant death (ex. Heroin, methadone)Disease: -immature immune system prenatally-sexually transmitted diseases-taxoplasmosis: disease caused by parasite in raw meat, cat feces-Ex.: eye, brain damage during 1st trimester; miscarriages later in pregnancy-pregnancy advice: avoid handling raw meat, cleaning little boxes!-rubella: german measles flu symptoms, bodily rash-if contracted during embryo stage congenital rubella syndrome-blindness, deafness, heart problems, intellectual disability-eyes& heart weeks 1-8; ears—> 9-12-Environmental threats: radiation, pollution,Legal Drugs: -thalidomide, aspirin, ibuprofen, caffeine, etc. ?-cigarettes: nicotine, carbon monoxide placenta fetus-impairs exchange of oxygen, nutrients-spontaneous miscarriage, low birth weight, higher risk of SIDS-alcohol: fetal alcohol (spectrum) syndromefetal alcohol (spectrum) syndrome: physical & cognitive abnormalities caused by mother’s (heavy?) drinking during pregnancy, including: - intellectual disabilityo social deficitso poor memory, attention deficitso stunted growtho epileptic seizureso facial abnormalities- Primary mental deficits: cognitiveo Creative artistic capabilities often intactMaternal Factors-Age: 16-35 ideal?-mothers younger than 16: -low SES, poor nutrition, stress, access to prenatal care?-mothers older than 35: -higher risks of chromosomal abnormalities, birth complciations-Nutrition: -malnutrition low birth weight-1st trimester: miscarriages, spinal cord defects-3rd trimester: low birth weight, small head, high infant mortality rate-fewer brain cells, lower brain weight (autopsy studies)-Vitamins & minerals: -magnesium, zinc fewer birth complications, improved placenta function-folic acid-Emotions: cortisol: stress hormone-short-term stressors usually ok-chronically high levels during pregnancy-growth genes operate slower, premature birth, low birth weigh-hyperactivity; irritability; irregular eating, sleeping & bowel movements-cortisol redirects blood to large muscles (less to fetus), reduces immune system activityBirth & Childbirth PracticesBirth: baby usually head-down-3 stages of birth process: 1. contractions at 10-15 minute intervals-usually 8-14 hours (first born child), 3-8 hours (subsequent children)2. delivery3. afterbirth: expulsion of placentaWhat is it like to be born:-newborns release cortisol increase heart rate, blood flow to brain-most quiet down within a few minutes of birthhead plates: bony segments of skull; detached & mobile at birth (“soft spot”)-What is it like to have a new child?-first 6-12 hours: sensitive period for emotional bonding-40-60% of mothers: maternity blues-maybe because hormonal changes? Stress?-Postpartum depression: sadness, despair after giving birth-can last months (10% of mothers)-correlated with previous depression?Assessing Baby’s Condition: APGAR Scale: rate newborns on 5 characteristics, each on 0-2 scale-overall score: 0-10-4 or lower: immediate medical attention needed-7 or higher: good physical condition-heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, color, reflex irritabilityThe Newborn-Human newborns less competent than newborns of many other species-traditional view of newborns: blooming, buzzing confusion (William James)-capable of very little-Newborn brain development-brain development in womb: at peak, 250,000 new neurons per minute-slowed rate of neuronal formation after birth, begin developing neural networks-through puberty, then a pruning processSleepex. Newborns 70% of time asleep (16-18 hrs/day-brief sleep cycles (1-2 hrs)-2-6 weeks: 14-16 hrs/day-3-7 months: sleep through nightnon-REM sleep: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep: active, irregular sleep stage