Summarize the impact of environmental factors on prenatal development
What will be an ideal response?
A developing baby and its mother are linked through the placenta, and a mother's behaviors can affect the baby dramatically.
Severe maternal malnutrition is linked to increased risk of birth complications and neurological problems in the newborn. The effects of moderate maternal malnutrition are more difficult to evaluate.
Maternal drug use can significantly impact a developing baby, even if the drugs are legal, like alcohol and tobacco. Many drugs, both prescription and recreational, are linked to birth defects. Problems can even be caused by some drugs prescribed for medical reasons.
Fetal alcohol syndrome, one of the leading causes of mental retardation, is a collection of congenital (inborn) problems associated with excessive alcohol use during pregnancy. Problems include microcephaly, heart defects, irritability, hyperactivity, and delayed mental and motor development.
Maternal illness can also interfere with prenatal development; the nature of the damage depends, in part, on when the mother contracts the illness and the type of illness. HIV can be transmitted to the offspring through either the placenta or breast milk or even during delivery.
Environmental Toxins. Prenatal exposure to air pollution has been linked with later impairments in cognitive development. Exposure to chemicals used in flame-retardant materials correlates with slower mental and physical development through age 6.
You might also like to view...
A primary distinction between neurotic and psychotic disorders is
a. psychoses are always more intense. b. the interpretation per case. c. neuroses affect limited areas and psychoses affect many areas of functioning. d. the number of symptoms reported.
The major disadvantage of the data-based approach to identifying middle-level abilities is that it:
A) focuses on observable behaviour and ignores the cognitive processes that contribute to intelligence. B) does not distinguish between fluid and crystallized intelligence. C) cannot identify middle-level abilities that are not already measured by intelligence tests. D) occasionally identifies middle-level abilities that do not correlate highly with specific abilities.
As early as the end of the ____ gestational month, the fetus's reproductive system already contains immature ova or sperm cells
a. third b. fourth c. fifth d. sixth
Research exploring the relationship between Type A
personalities and coronary heart disease (CHD) is not as strong as was previously believed. Some studies found support for this relationship, while others did not. While this inconsistency may at first glance seem to be a bad thing, it does provide avenues for further exploration and clarity. The lack of consistent research findings is important for which of the following concepts from this chapter? A) Ruling out rival hypotheses B) Falsifiability C) Occam's Razor D) Replicability