Chapter 3 Flashcards
(27 cards)
norm
an average or standard measurement calculated from the measurements of many individuals within a specific group or population
head sparing
a biological mechanism that protects the brain when malnutrition disrupts body growth. The brain is the last part of the body to be damaged by malnutrition
neuron
one of billions of nerve cells in the central nervous system. especially in the brain
cortex
the outer layer of the brain in humans and other mammals. Most thinking, feeling and sensing involve the cortex
prefrontal cortex
the area of the cortex at the very front of the brain that specializes in anticipation, planning, and impulse control
axon
a fiber that extends from a neuron and transmits electrochemical impulses from that neuron to the dendrites of other neurons
dendrite
a fiber that extends from a neuron and receives electrochemical impulses transmitted from other neurons via their axons
synapses
the intersection between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites of other neurons
neurotransmitter
a brain chemical that carries information from the axon of a sending neuron to the dendrites of a receiving neuron.
synaptic gap
the pathway which neurotransmitters carry information from the axon of the sending neuron to the dendrites of the receiving neuron
transient exuberance
the great but temporary increase in the number of dendrites that develop in an infants brain during the first two years of life
pruning
when applied to brain development the process by which unused connections in the brain atrophy and die
seld-righting
the inborn drive to remedy a developmental deficit
sensation
the response of a sensory system when it detects a stimulus
perception
the mental processing of sensory information when the brain interprets a sensation
motor skills
the learned abilities to move some part of the body, in actions landing from a large leap to a flicker of the eyelid.
gross motor skills
physical abilities involving large body movement, such as walking and jumping
fine motor skills
physical abilities involving small body movements especially of the hands and fingers such as drawing and picking up a coin
immunization
a process that stimulates the bodys immune system to defend against attack by a particular contagious disease.
object permanence
the realization that objects still exist even if they can no longer be seen, touched or heard
mirror neurons
cells in an observers brain that respond to an action performed by someone else in the same way they would if the observer had actually performed that action
child-directed speech
the high pitches simplified, and repetitive way adults speak to infants
babbling
the extended repetition of certain syllables that begins when babies are between 6 and 9
holophrase
a single word that is used to express a complete, meaningful thought
