fetal programming

during prenatal development, a fetus’s physiological adaptation in utero to changing environmental conditions or stimuli (e.g., maternal stress, poor maternal nutrition, environmental toxins) and the long-term consequences of this adaptation on the child’s postnatal development into adulthood. It is believed that the effects of fetal programming may predispose individuals to later health and mental health disorders. See Dutch Hunger Winter.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

November 24th 2024

R-technique factor analysis

a type of factor analysis performed on a correlation matrix: It examines associations between variable measurements in order to understand how the variables themselves group together and are related. Also called R factor analysis. Compare P-technique factor analysis; Q-technique factor analysis.