Chapter 4

Question 1

cephalocaudal principle

Answer 1

the principle that growth follows a
pattern that begins with the head
and upper body parts and then
proceeds down to the rest of the
body

Question 2

proximodistal principle

Answer 2

the principle that development
proceeds from the center of the
body outward

Question 3

principle of hierarchical
integration

Answer 3

the principle that simple skills
typically
develop separately and
independently but are later integrated
into more complex skills

Question 4

principle of the independence of
systems

Answer 4

the principle that different body
systems grow at different rates

Question 5

neuron

Answer 5

the basic nerve cell of the nervous
system

Question 6

synapse

Answer 6

the gap at the connection between
neurons, through which neurons
chemically communicate with one
another

Question 7

nervous system

Answer 7

is composed of
the brain and the nerves that extend throughout the body

Question 8

synaptic pruning

Answer 8

the elimination of neurons
as the result of nonuse or lack of
stimulation

Question 9

myelin

Answer 9

a fatty substance that helps
insulate
neurons and speeds the
transmission of nerve impulses

Question 10

cerebral cortex

Answer 10

the upper layer of the brain

Question 11

shaken baby syndrome

Answer 11

in which an infant is shaken by a caretaker or parent,
usually out of frustration or anger due to a baby’s crying. Shaking can lead the brain to
rotate within the skull, causing blood vessels to tear and destroying the intricate connections
between neurons

Question 12

plasticity

Answer 12

the degree to which a developing
structure or behavior is modifiable
due to experience

Question 13

sensitive period

Answer 13

a specific, but limited, time, usually
early in an organism’s life,
during which the organism is
particularly susceptible to environmental
influences relating to some
particular facet of development

Question 14

rhythms

Answer 14

repetitive, cyclical patterns of
behavior

Question 15

state

Answer 15

the degree of awareness an infant
displays to both internal and
external stimulation

Question 16

Awake states

Answer 16

Alert

Non-alert waking

Fuss

Cry

Question 17

Alert

Answer 17

Attentive or scanning, the infant’s eyes are open, bright, and shining

Question 18

Non-alert waking

Answer 18

Eyes are usually open but dull and unfocused. Varied, but typically
high motor activity.

Question 20

Fuss

Answer 20

Fussing is continuous or intermittent, at low levels

Question 21

cry

Answer 21

Intense vocalizations occurring singly or in succession

Question 22

Transition states between sleep and waking

Answer 22

drowse

daze

sleep-wake transition

Question 23

drowse

Answer 23

Infant’s eyes are heavy-lidded but opening and closing slowly. Low
level of motor activity.

Question 24

daze

Answer 24

Open but glassy and immobile eyes. State occurs between episodes
of alert and drowse. Low level of activity.

Question 25

sleep wake transition

Answer 25

Behaviors of both wakefulness and sleep are evident. Generalized motor activity; eyes may be closed or they open and close rapidly. State occurs when baby is awakening.

Question 26

Sleep states

Answer 26

active sleep quiet sleep

Question 27

active sleep

Answer 27

Eyes closed; uneven respiration; intermittent rapid eye movements. Other behaviors: smiles, frowns, grimaces, mouthing, sucking, sighs, and sigh-sobs.

Question 28

quite sleep

Answer 28

Eyes are closed and respiration is slow and regular. Motor activity limited to occasional startles, sigh-sobs, or rhythmic mouthing.

Question 29

Transitional sleep states

Answer 29

active-quite transition sleep

Question 30

active-quite transition sleep

Answer 30

During this state, which occurs between periods of active sleep and quiet sleep, the eyes are closed and there is little motor activity. Infant shows mixed behavioral signs of active sleep and quiet sleep.

Question 31

rapid eye movement (REM) sleep

Answer 31

the period of sleep that is found in older children and adults and is associated with dreaming

Question 32

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Answer 32

the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy baby

Question 33

reflexes

Answer 33

unlearned, organized, involuntary responses that occur automatically in the presence of certain stimuli

Question 34

swimming reflex

Answer 34

makes a baby who is lying face down in a body of water paddle and kick in a sort of swimming motion. It disappears at around 4-6 months and its possible function is to avoid danger.

Question 35

eye-blink reflex

Answer 35

seems designed to protect the eye from too much direct light, which might damage the retina

Question 36

Rooting reflex

Answer 36

It disappears at about 3 weeks. Neonate’s tendency to turn its head toward things that touch its cheek. The possible function is food intake

Question 37

Stepping reflex

Answer 37

Movement of legs when held upright with feet touching the floor. It disappears at around 2 months. Its possible function would be to prepare the infant for independent locomotion.

Question 38

Grasping reflex

Answer 38

Infant’s fingers close around an object placed in its hands. It disappears around 5-6 months. Its possible function is to provide support.

Question 39

Moro reflex

Answer 39

Activated when support for the neck and head is suddenly removed. The arms of the infant are thrust outward and then appear to grasp onto something. disappears at around 6 months. It possible function is the protection from falling.

Question 40

Babinski reflex

Answer 40

An infant fans out its toes in response to a stroke on the outside of its foot. Disappears at around 8-12 months. The possible function is unknown.

Question 41

Startle reflex

Answer 41

An infant, in response to a sudden noise, flings out its arms, arches its back, and spreads its fingers. Remains in a different form. The function is protection.

Question 42

Sucking reflex

Answer 42

Infant’s tendency to suck at things that touch its lips. This reflex remains and its function is food intake

Question 43

Gag reflex

Answer 43

An infant’s reflex to clear its throat. This reflex remains and its function is to prevent choking.

Question 44

Milestones of Motor Development

Answer 44

3.2 months - rolling over 3.3 months - grasping rattle 5.9 months - sitting without support 7.2 months - standing while holding on 8.2 months - grasping with thumb and finger 11.5 months - standing alone well 12.3 months - walking well 14.8 months - building tower of two cubes 16.6 months - walking up steps 23.8 months - jumping in place

Question 45

gross motor skills

Answer 45

such as sitting or walking

Question 46

fine motor skills

Answer 46

coordinating movement of their limbs

Question 47

pincer grasp,

Answer 47

where thumb and index finger meet to form a circle

Question 48

dynamic systems theory

Answer 48

a theory of how motor skills develop and are coordinated

Question 49

norm

Answer 49

the average performance of a large sample of children of a given age

Question 50

Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS)

Answer 50

a measure designed to determine infants’ neurological and behavioral responses to their environment

Question 51

nonorganic failure to thrive

Answer 51

a disorder in which infants stop growing due to a lack of stimulation and attention as the result of inadequate parenting

Question 52

weaning

Answer 52

the gradual cessation of breast- or bottle-feeding

Question 53

sensation

Answer 53

the physical stimulation of the sense organs

Question 54

perception

Answer 54

the sorting out, interpretation, analysis, and integration of stimuli involving the sense organs and brain

Question 55

binocular vision

Answer 55

the ability to combine the images coming to each eye to see depth and motion, is achieved at around 14 weeks.

Question 56

multimodal approach to perception

Answer 56

the approach that considers how information that is collected by various individual sensory systems is integrated and coordinated

Question 57

affordances

Answer 57

options that a given situation or stimulus provides