Lecture notes
Prenatal development
- Institution
- Newcastle University (NCL)
The prenatal development section of the course
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Lecture 1 – Prenatal Development Developmental psychology - branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive and social
change throughout the lifespan
Human development is continuous process - goes from prenatal to death. Therefore, we study
lifespan in entirety
Module focus however is on childhood, but opens up as course goes on
Key issues and debates
o Nature v nurture (nativism v empiricism/constructivism), biological process (maturation)
v experience
o Stability v change during life span - what changes, when does it change, what periods
are critical
Link these questions to EVERYTHING
Key question for lecture: how can psychologists learn about development prenatally?
Prenatal development - conception to birth: 40 weeks https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=sqpmzEefWrk
o Zygote
0-2 weeks
Cells at conception -> divides repeatedly -> cells specialise e.g. into digestive,
nervous system
Zygote = single cell embryo made of 46 unique chromosomes (genetic blueprint)
22 pairs of autosomes, 1 pair of sex chromosomes, so 23 pairs and 46
single
Enters rapid cell division (100 cells that specialize) by week 1
Develops into embryo
o Embryo
2-8 weeks
Human features develop rapidly -> sexual development -> susceptibility to
damage -> reflexive responses
Issue is many women don't know they are pregnant at this stage - health
implications
Chemical reactions drive organ formation
18 days -> embryo heart
3 weeks and 1 day -> heart begins to beat
4 weeks -> heart beats between 105-121 bpm
8 weeks -> major features can be defined - arms, hands, fingers, legs,
toes, head, eyes
, Brain and spinal cord
Site of future brain is recognizable in development of neural plate by 2
weeks, 4 days
3 weeks -> neural plate thickens at head end of embryo and folds into
neural tube which forms brain and spinal cortex
4 weeks -> midbrain, hindbrain and forebrain recognisable
Movement:
Embryo moves between 5-6 weeks, and is felt at 10
Movement essential for development of bones and joints
Leads to reflex development
Sexual development
Chromosomes: XX female, XY male
Gene on Y chromosome initiates chemical processes for development of
testies
Y chromosome initiates development of testes, which secret sex
hormones called androgens, e.g. testosterone which is involved in
dominance and aggression
Androgens form gonads into testes - no androgens create ovaries
o Foetal
From two months
Bone cells to birth -> organs fully develop -> premature birth from approx. 27 weeks
gives a fair chance of survival (variable) but rates of foetal development vary
9 weeks -> foetus swallows (Campbell, 2004) and sucks thumb (Hepper et al, 1991)
Also can sense light touch with face, palms of hands and soles of feet (Reinis and
Goldman, 1980)
10 weeks fingernails and toenails are growing (O'Rahilly and Müller, 2001)
Most of foetus is touch-sensitive by 13-14 weeks (Carlson, 1994)
14 weeks -> mouth shows rooting reflex used by new-borns to find food (Carlson,
1994)
Due to advances in technology, we gain more insight into feotal development
14 weeks clear gender differences as females move jaws more than males (Hepper
at al, 1997)
From 20 weeks foetus hears and responds to sounds (Lecanuet and Schaal, 1996)
Size
Month 2 - 3cm long and 28g - appearance of bone cells
M3 - 7-8cm long, 28g - complete development of major organs
M4 - 18 cm long, 180g - sleep cycle, feotal movement
M6 - 33cm, 1kg
M7 - critical, as foetus can be born prematurely
25 weeks foetus responds to taste
Sweet substances placed in amniotic fluid increase feotal swallowing
Bitter substances decrease swallowing and may alter facial expression
(Moore and Persaud, 2003)
Evolutionarily this may be because sweet substances indicate nutrients,
whereas bitter can be dangerous
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