Exam 1

the concept that refers to all of the possible phenotypes that could result from a particular genotype in relation to all possible environments

describes the pattern of phenotypic expression of a single genotype across a range of environments; For every genotype, phenotypic trait, and environmental variable, a different norm of reaction can exist; (concept introduced by Woltereck)

the proportion of observable differences between individuals due to genetic differences; Heritability thus analyzes the relative contributions of differences in genetic and non-genetic factors to the total phenotypic variance in a population; measures the fraction of phenotype variability that can be attributed to genetic variation; can change without any genetic change occurring; heritability increases because genetics are contributing more variation, or because non-genetic factors contribute less variation; it's specific to a particular population in a particular environment

birth of neurons; process by which neurons are generated from neural stem and progenitor cells; most active during pre-natal development; responsible for populating the growing brain with neurons; happens in hippocampus and the subventricular zone in adults POS

contains most of the dopamine-sensitive neurons in the cerebral cortex; dopamine system is associated with reward, attention, short-term memory tasks, planning, and motivation

integrates sensory information from different modalities, particularly determining spatial sense and navigation; it comprises somatosensory cortex and the dorsal stream of the visual system; enables the mapping of objects perceived visually into body coordinate positions

involved in auditory perception and is home to the primary auditory cortex; also important for the processing of speech and vision; it contains the hippocampus and plays a key role in the formation of long-term memory

the production of the myelin sheath; production of myelin begins in the fourteenth week of fetal development, although little myelin exists in the brain at the time of birth. During infancy, myelination occurs quickly and continues through the adolescent stages of life; myelin is a dielectric (electrically insulating) material that forms a layer, the myelin sheath, around the axon of a neuron; it's an outgrowth of a type of glial cell

the formation of synapses; an explosion of synapse formation occurs during early brain development; important during an individual's "critical period" of life, during which there is a certain degree of neuronal pruning due to competition for neural growth factors by neurons and synapses; processes that are not used, or inhibited during this critical period will fail to develop normally later on in life

an activity-dependent process that involves competition between axons; Hypothetically, a synapse strong enough to produce an action potential will trigger the myonuclei directly across from the axon to release synaptotrophins that will strengthen and maintain well-established synapses; this synaptic strengthening is not conferred upon the weaker synapses, thereby starving them out

involves the strong effect of specific experiences during limited sensitive periods of development; ex. the coordinated use of the two eyes, and the experience of a single three-dimensional image rather than the two-dimensional images created by light in each eye, depend on experiences with vision during the second half of the first year of life; works to fine-tune aspects of development that cannot proceed to optimum outcomes as a result of genetic factors working alone

behavior is altered as a result of learning from the environment; this can occur throughout the lifespan and may involve many kinds of behavior, including some emotional reactions

the involvement of many factors, such as genetic and environmental factoris, in an outcome

area of psychology concerned with how variations in behavior results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors

LONG, threadlike molecules made up to two twisted strands of genetic material

molecules that carry the biochemical instructions involved in the formation and funcitoning of an organism

ex. the strengthening of some synapses and the elimination of others that occurs as a result of experience

neurons' electrical impulses are translated into chemical messages in THESE

the membrane that is filled with a clear, watery fluid in which the fetus floats; it containts the fluid that cushions the developing organism from jolts

the range of effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol; symptoms of the most dramatic form of this include facial deformities, mental retardation, and organ defects

the fact that hte likelihood and severity of a prenatal defect occurring as a result of teratogen exposure is associated with the level of exposure to the teratogen; the amount and length of exposure to ptentially harmful environmental agents is crucial in determining the effect of exposure

the change in effect on an organism caused by differing levels of exposure (or doses) to a stressor (usually a chemical) after a certain time

the developing organism from the 9th week until birth

a birth weight less than 5.5 lbs; babies with this are more likely to suffer from hearing, language and cognitive impairments, as well as a variety of social problems

the utbe that contains the blood vessels running between the mother and the fetus; it runs between the placenta and the fetus

a developing organism in its 3rd to 8th week of prenatal development; the inner cell mass differentiates into three layers during this embryogenesis

the unexpected death of an infant that has no identifiable cause; the risk of this is decreased by putting babies to sleep on their backs

a child born at or before 35 weeks following conception; ex. a baby born at 34 weeks following conception who weighs 6.5 lbs

babies that weigh substantially less than normal for their gestational age; ex. a baby both full-term who weights less than is normal (also considered to be of low birth weight)

the organ rich with blood vessels that permits the exchange of materials between the bloodstreams of the mother and fetus; allows oxygen, nutrients and minerals to pass from the mother to the developing organism, but DOES NOT allow their blood to mix

organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply

the period of time during which a developing organism is most at risk for harm from outside agents; ex. as a result of sensitive periods, only babies who were exposed to thalidomide while the limbs were emerging and developing wer born with major limb deformaties

the fertalized egg; cell division begins during THIS period of prenatal development

the union of a sperm and egg; it results in a zygote

monozygotic; simblings that results when the zygote splits in half to form 2 embryos; individuals with the exact same genetic makeup

dizygotic; they develop when two separate eggs released in the fallopian tube at hte same time are fertilized by two separate sperm; they share half of their genetic material

an infant's level of arousal and engagement in the environment; an infants state affects their experience of the world, and can range from deep sleep to intense activity

the notion that humans share some characteristics and developmental processes with other animals as a result of our common evolutionary history; why we can do research on mice and apply it to humans

a quiet or deep sleep characterized by the absence of motor activity or eye movement, slow brain waves, breathing and heart rate

form of learning that involves a decrease in response to repeated stimulation; this is one of the simplest forms of learning and was demonstrated when fetuses were repeatedly presented with a recording of the sound "babi"

successful development occurs despite multiple developmental hazards; children who demontrate this often have a responsive caregiver and personal characteristics such as intelligence and sense of being capabale of achieving their goals

the pattern of growth in which areas near the head develop earlier than areas father away from the head; this pattern explains why the hands develop before the feet

the emergence of new structures and functions during development; rejection of the idea of preformation

the notion that brain activity during REM sleep facilitates the early development of the visual system in the fetus and newborn; support for this is demonstrated by giving newborns extra visual stimulation while they were awake

if given a lot of stimulation when awake, babies will spend less time in REM sleep; therefore REM sleep may simply be an attempt to provide stimulation

the study of prenatal development; the study of phsyical and behavioral development in the womb

an active sleep state characterized by quick, jerky eye movements; this may help make up for hte little visual stimulation experienced by fetuses/newborns

the later emergence of effects of prenatal experience; an example = finding that prenatal malnourishment can lead to increased risk of obiesity later in life

a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning; Symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, narrowing of the field of vision and damage to hearing and speech

the degree to which different observers of the same behavior agree

attributes that cary across individuals and situations; ex. socioeconomic status, marriage, etc

the notion that a correlation between two varibale could result from both variables being influenced by another, unspecified variable

the degree to which the effects observed in experiments can be attributed to the variables that the researcher intentionally manipulated; ex. social skills training and time in children

the degree to which the results of research can be generalized beyond the particular children and methods used in the study;

the degree to which a child's performance on two or more occassions is similar

the degree to which a test measures what it intends to measure

the degree to which independent measures of a behavior are consistant

data is collected in an everyday setting; have greater external validity than lab experiments

procedue in which the questions are modified depending on the participant's responses; deviating from the script; probing

notion that changes wiht age occur in sudden, large shifts; stage theories

research method in which all participants are asked the same questions

same children are studied repeatedly over a short (micro) period of time; method is designed to provide an in-depth depiction of the processes that involve change

approaches to development that propose development occurs in a series of distinct age-related steps

children of different ages are compared on one behavior or characteristic

examination of children's behaviors in an environment where all participants are presented with identical situations