Developmental psychologyLesson 2 of 2 in the course Physical and Cognitive Development in Infants and Toddlers (Birth to Age 3)

Infant Sensory Development: Vision, Hearing, Touch, Taste, and Integration

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Infants begin life able to detect information through all five senses, but their sensory systems and ability to interpret what they detect develop at different rates. This lesson introduces sensation and perception, then focuses on the development of vision.

Sensation is the detection of sensory stimuli, such as light, sound, pressure, or flavor. Perception is the interpretation and organization of sensory information so that it becomes meaningful. Seeing a pattern of light is sensation; recognizing it as a familiar face is perception.

All flashcards

Sensation
Detection of sensory stimuli, such as light, sound, pressure, or flavor.
Perception
Interpretation and organization of sensory information so it becomes meaningful.
Contrast sensitivity
The ability to distinguish differences in lightness, shades, or outlines.
High-amplitude sucking technique
A method for studying infant sound preferences by recording changes in sucking.
Intermodal perception
Combining information from multiple senses into a connected experience.

Quiz questions

  1. In the high-amplitude sucking technique, how can an infant signal a preference for a sound?Answer: By sucking more strongly or often to trigger the sound.
  2. Around when does hearing begin developing during prenatal life?Answer: Around the fifth month of prenatal development.
  3. Which sense is described as the most highly developed at birth?Answer: Touch.
  4. At about what age can infants distinguish colors nearly as well as adults?Answer: Around four to six months.
  5. By about nine months, which part of a face do infants tend to look at more than the mouth?Answer: The eyes.

Based on Lifespan Development by Diana Riser, Rose Spielman, David Biek (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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