Prenatal Development - Neuropsychology CHILD Foundation

Prenatal Development Growing fetus • Reflexes • Senses By Drina Madden •

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Prenatal Development  The beginning of life

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Prenatal Development  The period of the embryo

28 days C.H.I.L.D Foundation www.childhealthlearn.org

36 days 3

Prenatal Development  The period of the embryo

48 days C.H.I.L.D Foundation www.childhealthlearn.org

54 days 4

Prenatal Development  The period of the fetus

Eleventh Week C.H.I.L.D Foundation www.childhealthlearn.org

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Prenatal Development  Fetus -

24 weeks

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 Fetus – 8 months

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Prenatal Development

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Reflexes  First responses 

5 weeks after conception 

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Few days later 

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Upper lip touch = withdrawal response Sensitivity has spread to palms and soles of feet

Before 9 weeks 

Sensitivity has spread to whole body

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Reflexes  9 weeks in utero   

Withdrawal reactions lessen Primitive reflexes appear Neural development determines timing Appearance  Inhibition 

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Reflexes

 Primitive Reflexes 

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Insure protection outside the womb Automatic, stereotyped movements directed from the brain stem No cortex involvement

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Reflexes  Primitive Reflexes   

Essential for survival in first 2 weeks of life Lay foundation for all later functioning If remain after 6 – 12 months = brain development weaknesses or immaturity

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Reflexes  Primitive Reflexes – brain stem dominated Rooting Reflex – searching sucking and swallowing

Moro or Startle Reflex – response to outside stimuli C.H.I.L.D Foundation www.childhealthlearn.org

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Reflexes  Primitive Reflexes Asymmetrical Tonic – muscle tone, vestibular awareness Palmar – grasp reflex

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Reflexes

 Postural Reflexes 

Form the framework for effective operation of other systems Posture  Movement  Stability 

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Reflexes  Postural Reflexes - rolling Neck Righting Reaction

Labyrinth Righting Reaction C.H.I.L.D Foundation www.childhealthlearn.org

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Brain Development  Connections grow through nature and nurture

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Brain Development  Heredity and experiences increase connections

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Brain Development  Electrical activity increases with brain growth gained through experience

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Brain Development  As the body grows – the brain grows

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Brain Development  The lower brain – attention and mood

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The Senses  Touch begins in utero

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The Senses  Vestibular – balance and awareness in space

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The Senses  Hearing begins in utero and strongly connects to neonatal life

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The Senses  Taste begins to connect at birth

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The Senses  Vision is the last sense to complete its journey  In time, sharing occurs

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The Senses  Vision connects with language and perception

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The Senses  Language needs receiving and sending

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After Birth  Attention and mood govern development  Each of the brain lobes grows separately.

 Connections begin to reach to other lobes  The child’s brain grows in awareness and flexibility C.H.I.L.D Foundation www.childhealthlearn.org

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