What are the three stages of prenatal development?
Germinal stage, Embryonic stage, Foetal stage.
How long does the germinal stage last?
2 weeks.
What major event marks the beginning of prenatal development?
Sperm penetrates the egg, forming a zygote.
What is a blastula?
A ball of undifferentiated cells formed during the germinal stage.
When do blastula cells become differentiated?
By the end of the germinal stage
What happens during the embryonic stage?
Rapid cell differentiation, organ construction, heart begins to beat, limbs and eyes become visible.
How long does the embryonic stage last?
6 weeks
Why is the embryonic stage considered high‑risk?
Environmental hazards (disease, drugs, maternal stress) can cause severe developmental issues.
What is thalidomide known for causing when taken during pregnancy?
Severe limb malformations.
When does the foetal stage occur?
From 9 weeks to birth (around 7 months long).
What major developments occur during the foetal stage?
Growth in size and weight, organ refinement, nervous system development, spontaneous movement.
What is the “period of quiescence” in foetal development?
A drop in activity around week 17, believed to reflect brain reorganisation.
When does the vestibular system begin functioning prenatally?
Around 20 weeks gestational age
When can the foetus respond to sound
Around 20 weeks gestational age
When is the auditory system fully functional?
Around 30 weeks gestational age.
What type of sounds does the foetus hear best?
Low‑frequency sounds and the mother’s voice (filtered through the body).
What did DeCasper & Fifer (1980) show?
Newborns prefer their mother’s voice, learned before birth.
What did Fifer & Moon (1989) find?
Newborns prefer the filtered version of their mother’s voice (as heard in the womb)
What did Moon, Panneton‑Cooper & Fifer (1993) discover?
Newborns prefer their mother’s language over a foreign language.
What did DeCasper & Spence (1986) show about story learning?
Newborns prefer a story read repeatedly during pregnancy
What is the newborn’s brain weight at birth?
About 400g (28% of adult weight).
What promotes neural connectivity after birth?
Interaction with the environment and sensory feedback from movement.
How good is newborn visual acuity?
10 - 30 times worse than adults
What is the newborn’s fixed focal distance?
About 21 cm
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Introduction to developmental psychology34
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Introduction to Music psychology28
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Counselling Psychology31
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Pre and Post Natal Development33
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Self & Identity24
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Psychology of Happiness35
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Occupational psychology33
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Clinical psychology16
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Childhood42
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Prosocial behaviour28
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Child psychology part 219
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Piagets theory of development36
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Introduction to forensic psychology35
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Sport and Exercise Psychology40
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Health Psychology40
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Positive psychology and mindfulness28
