Describe reflexes found in the neonate. Discuss the usefulness of the reflexes for the infant's interactions with the world and for assessing the infant's neurological capabilities.
Explain the concept of infant states and what they indicate about human behavior. Describe the various infant states, ranging from sleeping to crying.
Describe the changes that take place in the cycles of sleep and the autostimulation theory of REM sleep in newborns.
Discuss the role of crying in early parent-child communication, different patterns of crying, and developmental shift of crying because of physiological versus psychological needs. Describe techniques used to soothe infants.
Discuss techniques for assessing newborn health and capabilities (i.e., Brazelton).
Describe the problems with assessing infants' sensory capacities and ways in which these problems have been overcome by innovative assessment methods.
Give a brief description of the infant's perceptual capabilities in the areas of hearing, vision, taste, and smell. Give one research example that demonstrates each area.
Describe intermodal perception and how it develops.
Discuss basic learning processes that are present early in life (classical conditioning, operant conditioning, imitation). Include how each develops and give an example of each process.
Describe the infant's memory capabilities and limitations.
