Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 18, 2026

A Novel Experimental and Analytical Approach to the Multimodal Neural Decoding of Intent During Social Interaction in Freely-behaving Human Infants
11:14

A Novel Experimental and Analytical Approach to the Multimodal Neural Decoding of Intent During Social Interaction in Freely-behaving Human Infants

Published on: October 4, 2015

New perspectives in early human development

H F Prechtl

    European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology
    |May 1, 1986
    PubMed

    A new hypothesis is presented concerning the maturation of the human nervous system and the duration of pregnancy. It has been found that many neural functions characteristic of the fetus continue after birth until a major transformation takes place at the end of the second postnatal month. From a comparative perspective the duration of pregnancy in man is relatively short among primates. An explanation may be found in metabolic constraint. The special energy demands of a large fetal nervous system and the build-up of a subcutaneous fat deposit may have prevented a proportional prolongation of pregnancy during evolution of hominids.

    More Related Videos

    Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization05:35

    Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

    Published on: April 19, 2017

    A View of Their Own: Capturing the Egocentric View of Infants and Toddlers with Head-Mounted Cameras03:56

    A View of Their Own: Capturing the Egocentric View of Infants and Toddlers with Head-Mounted Cameras

    Published on: October 5, 2018

    Related Concept Videos

    Cognitivism01:17

    Cognitivism

    Cognitive psychology emerged as a significant field in the mid-20th century. It focused on understanding humans' internal mental processes. This approach emphasizes how people perceive, remember, think, and solve problems—elements critical to human cognition.
    Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process information is...
    Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective01:23

    Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

    In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
    Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
    Introduction to Developmental Psychology01:27

    Introduction to Developmental Psychology

    Developmental psychology explores the changes and continuities in human abilities throughout life, encompassing physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social dimensions. Human development is not restricted to growth, but includes aspects of decline, particularly in physical abilities as individuals age. Developmental psychologists seek to understand how people change as they age and how their mental and social skills evolve.Developmental MilestonesA key concept in developmental psychology is...
    Three Developmental Domains01:29

    Three Developmental Domains

    Human development is typically examined across three main domains: physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional. These domains represent the significant areas of change and continuity throughout the lifespan, from infancy to late adulthood.
    Physical Development
    Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...
    The Nativist Approach01:21

    The Nativist Approach

    The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...
    Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition01:24

    Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition

    A revisionist approach to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development has brought new insights that challenge and reinterpret his established ideas. Piaget proposed that the formal operational stage, emerging in adolescence, represents the culmination of cognitive maturity. During this stage, individuals are said to develop abstract thinking, engage in systematic problem-solving, and show a form of egocentrism, believing others are as preoccupied with their behavior as they are themselves.