Breastmilk vs. Formula*Brain DevelopmentThe Developing CortexPrefrontal cortexSenses at birthVisual AcuityVisualFace preferenceVisual: Sensory & Perceptual CapacitiesHearingHearing: Sensory & Perceptual CapacitiesTaste and SmellTaste & Smell: Sensory & Perceptual CapacitiesMoving and Perceiving: Touch and PainWhy do they put everything in their mouths?TouchSurvival and Well-BeingMalnourishmentThe BrainBiological mechanism to protect brain during malnutrition Called Head-sparing Brain is last part of body to be damamged by malnutritionVideo TED TALKBreastmilk vs. Formula* Perfect balance of nutrientsContains colostrumEasily digested and absorbedInfant determines amountFreeNo prep time, no sterilizing bottles, perfect temp, etc.Mother must be available or provide pumped milkUncomfortable at firstOthers may feel left outNot as efficiently digestedNutritional content depends on proper preparationNo colostrumNot well-tolerated by all babiesPediatrician/caregiver determines amount$54 - $200 per monthPrep time variesAnyone can feed the baby* From March of DimesBrain DevelopmentThe Developing CortexThe infant's cortex consists of four to six thin layers of tissue that cover the brain. It contains virtually all the neurons that make conscious thought possible.Prefrontal cortexThe last part of the brain to mature is the prefrontal cortex, the area for anticipation, planning, and impulse control.Senses at birthParts of cortex dedicated to the senses develop rapidlyVisual AcuityNewborns see some colors but mostly they detect brightness and movement~ 20/240nerves, muscles, cones, and lens of the eye are still developingVisual discrimination (acuity) develops rapidlyPrefer mom’s face within daysBy 2-3 months can track movement, have good color vision; match voices to faces; discriminate faces from their own vs. other ethnic groupsBy 4-5 months ~ 20/60 acuity; hand-eye coordination; binocular vision and depth perceptionBy 6 months ~20/40 vision time to get an eye examVisualSeeing is least mature in newbornsFocus 4-30 inchesBinocular visionAs visual cortex maturesImproved shape recognitionVisual Scanning improvesFace preferenceFrom birth, infants like faces bias toward patterns with more elements in the upper than lower halfMore attention to eyes and internal featuresFrom paying attention to real faces, infant learns:To recognize and prefer their own mother’s face (~12 cumulative hours)To prefer the type of face they see most oftenTo understand the significance of different facial expressionshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0&list=PLACDD4E261232F48D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2I0kwSua44&list=PLACDD4E261232F48D&index=21Visual: Sensory & Perceptual CapacitiesThe Orienting ResponseInfant turns head toward a sight or soundVisual Trackingeye movements follow (track) a moving objecthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDDVqEa_MpY Newborns don’t track smoothly until 2 to 3 mosHearingHearing most advanced at birthAlready developing in last trimester of pregnancyHearing: Sensory & Perceptual CapacitiesAuditory localization - Newborns turn toward soundsSensitive to human voices – may be an innate preference that aids bonding“Tracking” evidence“Back to sleep” caveatTaste and Smell -Functions at birth -Rapidly adapt to the social world-Related to family and cultural preferencesTaste & Smell: Sensory & Perceptual CapacitiesSensitivity to taste and smell develops before birthNewborns can detect odors; grimace responsesNewborns prefer the smell of breast milk over formulaBy 2 weeks, can differentiate mother’s scentcalmed by familiar smells they associate withpleasant experiencesmay turn away from strangers with strong unfamiliar odorsMoving and Perceiving: Touch and PainTouch-Sense of touch is acute in infants.-Although all newborns respond to being securely held, soon they prefer specific, touches.Pain and temperature-Pain and temperature are often connected to touch.-Some assume that even the fetus can feel pain.Others say that the sense of pain does not mature until months or years later.Why do they put everything in their mouths?TouchInfants learn about the environment through active touch.Oral exploration dominates initiallyAround 4 months of age, manual exploration gradually takes precedence over oral exploration.Survival and Well-BeingInfants need stimulationPlayingVaried sensationsIf too much stressOverabundance of stress hormones damages later brain functioningInfants need protectionShaken baby syndrome – the motion ruptures blood vessels in brain and breaks neural connectionsMalnourishmentCreates stunting in growthSee this when there is warEg AfghanistanThen brain may not develop normallyThe BrainChildren who grow up in an impoverished environment may show depressed brain activity and brain growthBiological mechanism to protect brain during malnutritionCalled Head-sparingBrain is last part of body to be damamged by malnutritionVideo TED TALKAlison Gopnik: What do babies think?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cplaWsiu7Yg18