From an evolutionary perspective, understanding chimpanzees offers a way of understanding the basis of human nature. This book on cognitive development in chimpanzees is the first of its kind to focus on infants reared by their own mothers within a natural setting, illustrating various aspects of chimpanzee cognition and the developmental changes accompanying them. The subjects are chimpanzees of three generations inhabiting an enriched environment, as well as a wild community in West Africa. There is a foreword by Jane Goodall and 26 color photos of chimpanzees in the laboratory and in the field in West Africa are included.
Is the human neonate indeed "physiological premature," as has been frequently stated? How does human neural development compare with that of other primate species? Is early human development a gradual unfolding of neural mechanisms from prenatal to postnatal life, or does it show rapid transformations at particular ages? The aim of this book is to answer these and similar questions about the functional repertoire of the human fetus, neonate, and young infant. Two main theoretical concepts are considered: first, the relationship between neural maturation and the duration of pregnancy and second, the existence of ontogenetic adaptations. Surveys and findings relevant to these concepts are provided by experts from various disciplines involved in research on fetal and preterm development and on the first three months of postnatal life. This book differs from many others summarizing descriptive knowledge of the field by emphasizing new theoretical concepts of early functional development. Recent ultrasound studies of the fetus have contributed greatly to this new approach, which has clear implications for the assessment and care of young infants. This thought-provoking book will be of interest to developmental neurologists, pediatricians and obstetricians, as well as to developmental psychologists and physical anthropologists.
Often defined as communication without words, non-verbal communication (NVC) refers to all aspects of a message which are not conveyed by the literal meaning of words. Both written and spoken communication can be nonverbal. The main types of NVC are chronemics, kinesics, paralinguistics, proxemics and semiotics. Culture, gender and social status influence non-verbal communication. NVC also includes object communication and haptics or touch. Paralinguistic mechanisms include intonation, stress, rate of speech, and pauses or hesitations; non-linguistic behaviours include gestures, facial expressions, and body language, among others. This book brings forth new and important research in this field.
Nursery Rearing of Nonhuman Primates in the 21st Century describes how and why nursery rearing of primates can produce adaptable juveniles and adults for research, conservation, and display-educational purposes. The volume details the history of nursery rearing since the mid-19th century, the outcomes of varied nursery rearing methods, the contemporary goals of nursery rearing as well as reference data derived from species commonly reared in nursery or hand-feeding situations. Examples of the changing goals of nursery rearing covered in this volume are the need for biological containment in disease research, the production of specific pathogen-free colonies by removal of neonates from the mother, the production of phenotypes for genetic and molecular biology studies, and the breeding of endangered species for conservation or research purposes.
This volume attempts an ontogenetically oriented understanding of the behavioral development of free-living infant chimpanzees. The focus of the investigation is on the organization underlying developing behavior. The study serves as a model for achieving an integrated view about early development and motor behaviors from separate cases. The monograph is beautifully illustrated to depict postural and other behavioral expressions studied.
Regression periods play a central role in the psychological development of the human baby. Studies of infants have identified 10 periods of regression, or a return to a high frequency of mother-infant contact, within the first 20 months of life. These periods of emotional insecurity in the child signal forthcoming periods of developmental advance and the emergence of an array of new skills as a consequence of parent-infant conflict over body contact and the renegotiation of old privileges. Although the basic idea in this book is an old one, the authors believe that regression periods deserve further study and have identified four questions of central importance today: *Can the phenomenon of regression periods as found by Dutch researchers in 1992 be replicated in other countries and cultures? *What environmental conditions have an effect on these regression periods and how? *Are there physical conditions in infants that show a non-linear distribution over age similar to regression periods? *Have brain changes been detected since the review of Fischer & Rose (1994) at other ages than the six reported by them, and, if yes, how do these relate to the ages at which regression periods are found? Forming the core of this book, the replication studies performed in Sweden, Spain, and England provide support that regression periods are a rreliable phenomenon and should be dealt with accordingly whenever developmental processes in infancy are discussed.
This book provides an overview of fetal psychobiological research, focusing on brain and behavior, genetic and epigenetic factors affecting both short and long-term development, and technological breakthroughs in the field. These focal points intersect throughout the chapters, as in the challenges of evaluating the fetal central nervous system, the myriad impacts of maternal stressors and resiliencies, and the salience of animal studies. It also discusses specific monitoring and assessment methods, including cardiotocography, biomagnetometry, 4D ultrasound, in utero MRI, and the KANET test. Spanning assessment, identification, and pre- and postnatal intervention, the book weighs the merits of standardized evaluations and argues for more integrative research in the future. Included in the coverage: Effects on the fetus of maternal anxiety, depression, and stress during pregnancy. Clinical and experimental research in human fetuses and animal models. Observational research including the use of behaviors in developing tests to assess fetal health. Fetal auditory processing and implications for language development. Fetal effects of prenatal exposure to selective SRI antidepressant exposure. Structural and functional imaging of the prenatal brain. The effects of alcohol exposure on fetal development. Fetal Development: Research on Brain and Behavior, Environmental Influences, and Emerging Technologies is an essential resource for researchers, clinicians and related professionals, as well as students in a wide range of fields such as developmental psychology, pediatric and obstetrical medicine, neuroscience, nursing, social work, and early childhood education.