Infant Development Milestones

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Questions and Answers

What is the average weight of a child at 24 months?

28 pounds (correct)

26 pounds

22 pounds

30 pounds

During the first year, how much does a child's height increase on average each month?

2 inches

1 inch (correct)

3 inches

1.5 inches

By what month does a newborn typically double its birth weight?

4 months (correct)

2 months

6 months

8 months

Which of the following describes cephalocaudal development?

Growth from head to lower parts of the body Signup and view all the answers

What is the average length of a newborn at birth?

20 inches Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes reflexes in newborns?

They are involuntary responses Signup and view all the answers

How much does a child's height typically increase during the second year?

4-6 inches Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about physical development in the first two years?

Weight increases steadily without spurts Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of an axon in a neuron?

To transmit impulses from one neuron to another. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of dendrites in a neuron?

To receive electrochemical impulses from other neurons. Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain is primarily associated with emotions, including fear and anxiety?

Amygdala Signup and view all the answers

What are neurotransmitters responsible for?

Carrying information between neurons. Signup and view all the answers

What type of touch is a newborn comforted by?

Human touch Signup and view all the answers

Which type of odors do newborns prefer?

Pleasant odors Signup and view all the answers

Which area of the brain specializes in anticipation, planning, and impulse control?

Prefrontal cortex Signup and view all the answers

What is a synapse?

The intersection between an axon and a dendrite. Signup and view all the answers

What is the average daily sleep duration for a newborn?

16 hours Signup and view all the answers

What are the components of the limbic system?

Amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus Signup and view all the answers

What facial expression is commonly associated with sweet tastes in newborns?

Joy Signup and view all the answers

How do dendrites change over a person's lifetime?

They grow or disappear based on thinking. Signup and view all the answers

How does sleep affect a newborn's brain development?

It aids brain maturation Signup and view all the answers

What do newborns demonstrate in response to tastes?

Facial expressions Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does not influence a newborn's sleep pattern?

Favorite colors Signup and view all the answers

What type of growth is sleep correlated with in newborns?

Rapid growth Signup and view all the answers

Which taste do newborns most prefer?

Sweet Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of insufficient sleep in newborns?

Impaired brain development Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary consequence of forcefully shaking an infant?

Ruptured blood vessels in the brain Signup and view all the answers

Which type of brain function requires basic common experiences to develop?

Experience-expectant brain functions Signup and view all the answers

What happens when there is an overabundance of stress hormones in infants?

Damage to later brain functioning Signup and view all the answers

How does experience influence brain structure and connections in infants?

Brain structure is influenced by expected experiences Signup and view all the answers

Which activity is NOT recommended for stimulating brain connections in infants?

Allowing excessive screen time Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the hippocampus in the brain?

Processing memories, particularly for locations Signup and view all the answers

What role does cortisol play in the body?

It's a primary stress hormone affecting emotions. Signup and view all the answers

What is transient exuberance in the context of brain development?

Fivefold increase in dendrites during the first two years Signup and view all the answers

What happens to axons as a child grows?

They grow in length. Signup and view all the answers

What is myelin and what is its role in neural transmission?

Fatty tissue that insulates axons for more efficient messaging. Signup and view all the answers

How do dendrites develop during early childhood?

They proliferate and grow in number. Signup and view all the answers

Which gland responds to signals from the hypothalamus to produce hormones related to growth?

Pituitary gland Signup and view all the answers

What occurs in the developmental process of neurons?

Connection networks grow increasingly complex. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Body Changes in Early Development

Average birth weight is 7 pounds; by 24 months, it increases to 28 pounds.
Average birth length is 20 inches, growing to 34 inches by 24 months.
These measurements serve as norms for physical growth in infants.

Sequences of Physical Development

Cephalocaudal Development: Growth starts from the head and progresses downward. Height increases by about 1 inch monthly in the first year, with birth weight doubling by 4 months and tripling by the end of the first year.
Proximodistal Development: Growth occurs from the central axis of the body outward. In the second year, height increases by 4-6 inches and weight by 4-7 pounds, typically in growth spurts.

Reflexes and Newborn Responses

Newborn reflexes are involuntary movements in response to stimuli, with early preferences for human faces.
Sensory development includes touch (providing comfort), smell (well-developed, with preferences for pleasant odors), and taste (sensitivity to sweet, sour, and bitter tastes).

Sleep Patterns

Newborns average 16 hours of sleep daily; sleep needs fluctuate with age and environment.
Adequate sleep is crucial for brain maturation, emotional regulation, and overall development.

Understanding Motor Development

Motor development involves the growth and specialization of nervous system connections, including axons and dendrites.
Axon: Transmits impulses; Dendrite: Receives impulses. Both play vital roles in neural communication.

Key Neuroscience Vocabulary

Synapse: Junction where neuron axons transmit impulses to other neurons.
Limbic System: Brain area regulating emotions (amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus).
Neurotransmitter: Brain chemicals facilitating communication between neurons.
Hippocampus: Critical for memory processing and location recognition.
Cortisol: Stress hormone affecting emotional stability.
Myelin: Fatty tissue covering axons, enhancing message transmission efficiency.

Brain Development Insights

Infants are born with over 100 billion neurons; during early years, connections proliferate significantly, termed transient exuberance.
Neurodevelopment is influenced by experiences, both expectant (common) and dependent (specific).

Importance of Stimulation

Infants require interactive play and sensory experiences to foster brain connections and healthy growth.
High stress levels can impair brain development and functioning later in life.
Protective measures are essential to prevent injuries like shaken baby syndrome, which can severely damage neural connections.

Enhancing Brain Development

The structure and connections of the brain adapt to the experiences encountered during early development, outlining the necessity of nurturing environments for optimal growth.

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Description

Explore the remarkable changes that occur in infants during early development, including physical growth patterns and reflexes. Understand the concepts of cephalocaudal and proximodistal development, as well as sensory preferences in newborns.