EARLY PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Early Reflexes

Molding the Brain : Role of Experiences

Early Sensory Capacities

EARLY REFLEXES

WHAT IS A REFLEX?

Involuntary reaction or respone of our body to a stimulus

REFLEX BEHAVIOR

REFLEX BEHAVIOR

- automatic innate response to stimulation. - Control by the lower brain centers that govern involuntary processes sung as breathing and heart rate.

REFLEXES OBSERVED IN HUMAN INFANTS

Primitive reflex - early reflexes, present at birth or soon after.

-Related to instinctive needs for survival and protection or may support early connection to the caregiver.

Human infants have an estimated 27 major reflexes.

PRIMITIVE REFLEX

These reflexes disappear or are inhibited by the frontal lobes as a child moves through normal child development.

Most early reflexes disappear during the first 6 -12 months.

Reflexes that continue to serve protection remains. ( blinking, yawning, coughing, sneezing)

EARLY HUMAN REFLEXES Moro reflex/ startle

reflexStimulation : Baby is dropped or hears loud noise.Baby’s Behavior : Extend arms, legs and fingers, arches back, draw back head.Typical age of appearance : 7th month of gestationAge of Disappearance : 3 months

EARLY HUMAN REFLEXES Darwinian / grasping

reflex

Stimulation : Palm of baby’s hand is stroked.Baby’s behavior : Makes strong fist; can be raised to standing position if both hands are closed to a stick.Typical age of appearance : 7th month of gestationAge of Disappearance : 4 months

EARLY HUMAN REFLEXES Tonic neck reflexStimulation : Baby is laid down on back.Baby’s Behavior : Turns head on one side, assumes fencer position, extends arm and leg on preferred side, flexes opposite limbsTypical age of appearance : 7th month of gestationAge of Disappearance : 5 months

EARLY HUMAN REFLEX

Babkin ReflexStimulation : Both of baby’s palms are stroked at onceBaby’s Behavior : Mouth opens , eyes close, neck flexes, head tilts forward.Typical age of appearance : birthAge of Disappearance : 3 months

EARLY HUMAN REFLEX

Babinski ReflexStimulation : Sole of baby’s foot is strokedBaby’s Behavior : Toes fans out; foot twist inTypical age of appearance : BirthAge of Disappearance : 4 months

EARLY HUMAN REFLEX Rooting ReflexStimulation : Baby’s cheek or lower lip is stroked with finger or nipple.Baby’s Behavior : Head turns; mouth opens; sucking movement beginsTypical age of appearance : birthAge of Disappearance : 9 months

EARLY HUMAN REFLEX

Walking Reflex

Stimulation :

Baby is held under arms, with barefoot touching the floor.

Baby’s Behavior :

Makes step like motions that looks like well- coordinated walking

Typical age of appearance :

1 month

Age of Disappearance :

4 month

EARLY HUMAN REFLEX

Swimming ReflexStimulation : Baby is put into water face downBaby’s Behavior : Makes well – coordinated swimming movements.Typical age of appearance : 1 monthAge of Disappearance : 4 months

MOLDING THE BRAIN

The Role of Experiences

Up until the 1960s, researchers believed that changes in the brain could only take place during infancy and childhood. By early adulthood, it was believed that the brain's physical structure was permanent.

Modern research has demonstrated that the brain continues to create new neural pathways and alter existing ones in order to adapt to new experiences, learn new information and create new memories.

Brain is continually modified, both positively and negatively by environmental experiences.

Plasticity – Modifiability , or molding of the brain through experience.

-May be an evolutionary mechanism to enable adaptation to environmental change.-Enables learning.

Brain Plasticity / Neuroplasticity

NEUROPLASTICITY / BRAIN PLASTICITY

Neu ro plas tic ity occurs in the brain:1– At the begin ning of life: when the imma ture brain orga nizes itself.2– In case of brain injury: to com pen sate for lost func tions or max i mize remain ing functions.3– Through adult hood: when ever some thing new is learned and memorized

Early experiences can have lasting effects on the capacity of the CNS to learn and store informations.

During formative periods, the brain is especially vulnerable.

FACTORS THAT CAN THREATEN THE DEVELOPING BRAIN.

Exposure to hazardous drugs, environmental toxins

Maternal stress Malnutrition Early abuse / sensory impoverishment

EARLY SENSORY CAPACITIES

TOUCH AND PAIN

Touch is the first sense to develop. Pain perception may emerge by the 3rd

trimester of pregnancy. Prolonged or severe pain can do long-term

harm to newborns. Pain relief during surgery is essential.

SMELL AND TASTE

o Begin to develop in the womb.

o Preference for pleasant odors, seems to be learned in uterus and during first few days of birth.

o Odor transmitted from the mother’s breast milk may further contribute to learning.

Certain taste preference seem to be largely innate.

Newborns prefer sweet taste. It helps baby to adapt to life outside the womb.

Newborn’s rejection of bitter taste is another survival mechanism, as many bitter substances are toxic.

HEARING

Functional before birth

Early recognition of voices and language heard in the womb may lay foundation for the relationship with the mother.

Auditory discrimination develops rapidly after birth.

At 1 month, babies can distinguish sounds as close as ba and pa.

Hearing is a key to language development

Hearing loss occurs in 1-3 of 1000 live births.

SIGHT

Vision is the least developed sense at birth. Visual perception and the ability to use visual

information become more important as infants become more alert and active.

Eyes of newborn : -retinal structures are incomplete. - optic nerve is underdeveloped.

Neonate’s eyes focus from about 1 foot away Their field of peripheral vision is very narrow. - well developed at 3 months

Ability to follow a moving target also develops rapidly in the 1st months, as does color perception.

Visual acuity at birth is approximately 20/400 Reaching 20/20 level by about 8 months.

Binocular vision usually does not develop until 4-5 months.

FINISH….

Prepared by: Hazel Panabe

BSPT -3