Prenatal Development

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Prenatal Development Newborns
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• How soon after conception does brain begin to
  form?
• What are the 4 parts of the brain and the
  function of each?
• What does nerogenesis mean?
• What are the parts of a neuron and how do they
  communicate?

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In-class Assignment 2

• The purpose of this assignment is to help you
  better understand the three phases of prenatal
  development.

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Teratogens

• Agents that causes damage during prenatal
  development effect depends on
• Dose level length of exposure
• Genetic variability of mother organism
• Multiple influences versus a single agent
• Age or whether organism is in a sensitive period

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Figure 3.2 Sensitive periods in prenatal
development
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Teratogens

• Agents that causes damage during prenatal
  development effect depends on
• Dose level length of exposure
• Genetic variability of mother organism
• Multiple influences versus a single agent
• Age or whether organism is in a sensitive period
• Effects may be delayed psychological
• Includes drugs, diseases, environment

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• Alcohol
• Statistics
• 25 of expectant mothers report drinking
• 55 for those who might become pregnant
• Dose lt 1 glass/day is harmful
• Sensitive period Earliest months of pregnancy
• Effects Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
• Physical (facial) abnormalities

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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome typical facial
abnormalities
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• Alcohol
• Statistics
• 25 of expectant mothers report drinking
• 55 for those who might become pregnant
• Dose lt 1 glass/day is harmful
• Sensitive period Earliest months of pregnancy
• Effects Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
• Physical (facial) abnormalities
• Long-term mental retardation overactivity

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• Tobacco
• Statistics
• 12 report smoking during pregnancy
• Dose more is worse even 2nd-hand is bad
• Sensitive period throughout, but reversible
• Effects
• Low birth weight
• Behavioral disorders (ADD ADHD?)
• Long-term cognitive delays

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Long-term cognitive effects of smoking
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• Tobacco
• Statistics
• 12 report smoking during pregnancy
• Dose more is worse even 2nd-hand is bad
• Sensitive period throughout, but reversible
• Effects
• Low birth weight (low nutrients)
• Behavioral disorders (ADD ADHD?) due to CO2
• Long-term cognitive delays

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• Cocaine
• Statistics
• 1980s phenomenon estimate 11
• Dose unknown because of multiple influences
• Sensitive period throughout
• Effects
• Born addicted experience withdrawal
• Shrill piercing cry
• Low birth weight
• Long-term consequences?
• Less so if environment changes

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What are newborns capable of?
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Newborn Capabilities Reflexes

• Inborn, automatic response to stimulation
• Why?
• Serves a function
• Survival of newborn (e.g., sucking)
• Motor development (e.g., stepping)
• Evolutionary, no longer important (e.g., Moro)
• Parent-newborn bonding

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Reflexes
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Reflexes
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Newborn Capabilities Reflexes

• Inborn, automatic response to stimulation
• Why?
• Serves a function
• Survival of newborn (e.g., sucking)
• Motor development (e.g., stepping)
• Evolutionary, no longer important (e.g., Moro)
• Parent-newborn bonding

Most disappear at 6-months voluntary control of
behavior
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Newborn Capabilities Senses
Sensitive to touch, pain, temperature
Touch
Taste
Distinguish between tastes, likes dislikes
Smell
Can distinguish mother from other women
Hearing
Speech perception is better than adults Prefer
high-pitched, expressive sounds
Sight
Least mature, lack visual acuity, yet look for
stimulation
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Dr. Suess StudiesDecasper Fifer (1980)
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Dr. Deuss StudiesDecasper Fifer (1980)

• Participants 10 newborns (24 hours old)
• Method
• Earphones on infants played tape-recording of
  mother (and stranger) reading Dr. Suess story
• Pacifier in babies mouth monitored sucking

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• Results newborns suck more in response to
  mothers voice