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3.6: Key Terms

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    233475
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    A not B error
    error in which an infant searches for an object in the original rather than the new hiding place
    accommodation
    process by which we alter an existing schema to fit new information
    assimilation
    process by which we incorporate new information into an existing schema
    babbling
    repeated sequence of consonant-vowel sounds
    biopsychosocial
    change influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors
    child-directed speech
    speech with a sing-song intonation, simple words, and exaggerated pronunciation
    circular reaction
    repeated movement observed during the sensorimotor stage
    co-sleeping
    practice in which caregivers share a bed or a room with the infant or toddler
    cooing
    deliberate generation of vowel sounds
    deferred imitation
    repetition of a behavior after some time has passed
    dynamic systems theory
    theory that developmental behaviors and milestones are the result of interactions between systems, including those within the individual
    electroencephalogram (EEG)
    test that measures electrical activity in the brain
    explicit memory
    type of memory that we consciously try to remember and recall
    expressive style
    use of language for social reasons, to express feelings and needs
    fast mapping
    process by which children quickly connect words and their meanings
    fine motor skills
    coordinated movements performed by small muscles to manipulate and control objects or perform precise tasks like reaching for and grasping an object
    frontal lobe
    portion of the brain that controls thinking, planning, memory, and judgment
    gray matter
    outer layer of the brain
    gross motor skills
    voluntary movements that rely on large muscle groups and typically activate the arms, legs, head, and torso
    growth chart
    chart used to identify typical weight, height, and head circumference for boys and girls
    habituation
    decreased interest in and response to repeatedly presented stimuli
    holophrase
    speech that uses a single word to express an idea
    implicit memory
    type of memory that is not part of our consciousness
    infant mortality
    death before the age of one year
    infinite generativity
    capacity to create an unlimited number of meaningful messages
    interactionist approach
    approach to language development highlighting the complex interactions between the biological readiness of children and the environment in which they are raised
    intermodal perception
    awareness of the world gained through multiple senses at the same time
    kwashiorkor
    severe malnutrition, with a loss of appetite and swelling of the abdomen as the body breaks down organs as a source of protein
    language
    communication system that uses words and rules to allow the transmission of information between individuals
    lateralization
    process in which different functions become localized to one side of the brain
    learning approach
    approach to language development that highlights the contribution of caregivers
    long-term memory
    relatively permanent storage of information
    marasmus
    starvation due to lack of calories and protein
    morpheme
    smallest meaningful unit of language
    myelination
    process by which the axon develops the myelin sheath
    nativist approach
    approach to language development asserting that humans are born with the innate ability to learn language and that experience plays a very limited role
    neurogenesis
    development of new neurons
    neuron
    cell in the brain that sends messages
    NREM
    non–rapid eye movement sleep, characterized by slowed heart rate and respiration
    object permanence
    ability to recognize that an object exists even when we cannot observe it
    occipital lobe
    portion of the brain that processes visual information
    overextension
    tendency of young children to use words to inappropriately name something else
    parietal lobe
    portion of the brain that processes sensory information such as touch and spatial awareness
    perception
    interpretation of sensory information
    phoneme
    smallest unit of sound
    plasticity
    brain’s ability to change, physically and chemically, in response to environmental input and to compensate for injury
    prefrontal cortex
    front of the frontal lobe that regulates emotions and is involved in planning and judgment
    referential style
    use of language to talk about objects and things
    reflex
    involuntary movement in response to a stimulation
    REM
    rapid eye movement sleep, sometimes called active sleep
    schema
    a mental framework used to organize and interpret information
    sensation
    detection of sensory stimuli
    sensorimotor development
    first stage of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development theory, focused on children’s early experiences of the world
    smell
    perception of odors via the nose and part of olfactory system
    social referencing
    process in which children use information from another to determine their own response
    sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
    death of a healthy infant that is sudden and unexpected and cannot be explained
    sudden unexpected infant death (SUID)
    death from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation or strangulation, or an unknown cause
    sustained attention
    extended focus on an activity or stimulus
    symbolic thought
    ability to mentally represent objects, people, or events that are not present
    synapse
    gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released from the axon to the dendrite of the next neuron
    synaptic pruning
    process by which unused connections of neurons die off
    synaptogenesis
    process in which neurons connect with other, nearby neurons
    taste
    perception of flavor from receptors in mouth and tongue
    telegraphic speech
    speech that uses few words and does not rely on grammar rules
    temporal lobe
    portion of the brain associated with hearing and language
    underextension
    tendency of young children to inappropriately restrict the use of a word
    undernutrition
    intake of inadequate calories and/or nutrition
    universal listener
    infant who can distinguish the sounds of both native and non-native languages
    visual cliff
    test of depth perception that uses a table with the appearance of a drop-off from a shallow to deep surface
    white matter
    brain matter composed of many bundles of axons that connect neurons to different regions with functional circuits/pathways

    This page titled 3.6: Key Terms is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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