3.6: Key Terms

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