3.6. Infancy

The brain develops at an amazing rate before and after birth. You have already read about the parts of the brain and the important role played by cerebrum in human functions, such as language, perception, and intelligence. Just before birth, the newborns have most but not all brain cells. The neural connections among these cells develop at a rapid rate.

The brain undergoes rapid development before and immediately after birth. By the time of birth, most brain cells are present, but the connections between these cells, known as neural connections, are still forming. This rapid development is crucial as it lays the foundation for functions such as thinking, understanding language, and perceiving the world around us.

Imagine planting a garden. The seeds are like brain cells, and the connections between them are like the roots growing and intertwining in the soil. Just as a well-connected root system helps the plant grow strong and healthy, neural connections help the brain function effectively.

The newborn is not as helpless as you might think. The activities needed to sustain life functions are present in the newborn — it breathes, sucks, swallows, and discharges the bodily wastes. The newborns in their first week of life are able to indicate what direction a sound is coming from, can distinguish their mother’s voice from the voices of other women, and can imitate simple gestures like tongue protrusion and mouth opening.

Newborns are capable of several basic functions essential for survival, such as breathing and sucking. In their first week, they can not only detect where sounds come from but can also recognize their mother's voice distinctly. Moreover, they can imitate simple movements, showcasing an early form of learning and interaction.

Think of a newborn baby as a sponge. Just like a sponge absorbs water and automatically molds to its environment, newborns instinctively respond to their surroundings, absorbing information about sounds and people, especially their mothers.

Motor Development: The newborn’s movements are governed by reflexes — which are automatic, built-in responses to stimuli. They are genetically-carried survival mechanisms, and are the building blocks for subsequent motor development. Before the newborns have had the opportunity to learn, reflexes act as adaptive mechanisms. Some reflexes present in the newborn — coughing, blinking, and yawning persist throughout their lives. Others disappear as the brain functions mature and voluntary control over behaviour starts developing.

In the early stages, newborns exhibit several reflexes — these are automatic movements in response to various stimuli. For example, if you touch a newborn's cheek, their mouth will open to suck, a behavior that ensures feeding. Some reflexes, like blinking, remain for life; others fade as the child gains more voluntary control over their actions.

Imagine reflexes as the automatic safety features in a car. Just as safety belts and airbags activate without the driver needing to think about them, reflexes operate without conscious effort from the newborn, helping them navigate their new environment instinctively.

As the brain is developing, physical development also progresses. As the infant grows, the muscles and nervous system mature which lead to the development of finer skills. Basic physical (motor) skills include grasping and reaching for objects, sitting, crawling, walking, and running. The sequence of physical (motor) development is universal, with minor exceptions.

As infants grow, their physical skills advance in a specific sequence. They first learn basic skills like reaching and grasping, then progress to sitting, crawling, and finally walking and running. This sequence is generally the same for all infants, although the timing may vary slightly.

Consider an athlete training for a marathon. They start by building stamina through walking, then gradually introduce running. Similarly, infants develop their motor skills step-by-step, mastering one ability before moving on to the next, such as sitting before crawling.

Newborns are not as incompetent as they look. They can recognize their mother’s voice just a few hours after birth and have other sensory capabilities. How well can infants see? Newborns prefer to look at some stimuli rather than others such as faces, although these preferences change over the first few months of life. The newborn’s vision is estimated to be lower than the adult vision. By 6 months it improves and by about the first year, vision is almost the same as that of an adult (20/20). Can a newborn see colour?

Newborns demonstrate significant sensory capabilities. For example, they can recognize their mother's voice within hours of birth. Their visual abilities are initially limited but improve rapidly over the first year, with contrasts and colors becoming more distinguishable as they mature.

Imagine your vision is cloudy on a foggy morning. As the sun rises, the fog clears, allowing you to see the world around you more clearly. Similarly, a baby's ability to see evolves from blurry shapes to sharp, vivid images over time.

According to Jean Piaget, children actively construct their understanding of the world. Infants explore the world through senses and interactions with objects. Initially, they lack the understanding that objects continue to exist when not seen. This is called 'object permanence', which develops gradually as infants learn more about their world.

Jean Piaget proposed that infants learn about their world through their senses and actions. Initially, they think that if they can't see an object, it doesn't exist, a concept known as object permanence. This understanding develops gradually, helping them to recognize that things still exist even when they are out of sight.

Think of playing hide-and-seek with a toddler. Initially, if they can't see you, they might believe you've disappeared entirely. As they play more, they eventually come to understand that just because you're not visible doesn't mean you're gone; this realization mirrors their cognitive development regarding object permanence.

Babies from birth are social creatures. An infant starts preferring familiar faces and responds to parent’s presence by cooing and gurgling. When frightened by a new face or when separated from their mother, they cry or show distress. The close emotional bond of affection that develops between infants and their parents (caregivers) is called attachment.

From the moment they are born, infants show social tendencies. They favor familiar caregivers and respond emotionally, such as cooing or crying, based on comfort and familiarity. This emotional connection, known as attachment, is crucial for their social development and wellbeing.

Consider how a plant leans towards sunlight; babies also lean towards affection through attachment. Just as plants grow stronger with sunlight, infants develop better when they feel loved and secure, fostering healthy emotional and social growth.

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