There are a number of such models concerned with the control of movements and postures. The oldest, and one that incorporates the cortical inhibition (of reflexes) hypothesis, involves a distinction between higher (e.g., cortical) and lower (e.g., sub-cortical) levels of control. In this, and subsequent neurologically-based models, the main assumption is that movement planning and …
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Hidden Markov model (HMM)
Amodel representing a stochastic process that can be represented as operating asa discrete set of latent states, with a set of probabilistic transitionsbetween them. HMM is often defined in terms of a list of states, a statetransition matrix, and a distribution of outputs possible from those states. The transition matrix represents the probability that the process …
Hierarchical data structure
Dataare hierarchically structured, or can be said to have a multilevel structure,when observations can be grouped because they belong to different samplingunits, for example, observations about pupils can be grouped according to theirdifferent classes or schools. Where dataare hierarchically structured, it is conventional to refer to lower-level units(e.g., pupils) and higher-level units (e.g., classes) where …
Hiccups
An involuntary spasm of the diaphragm causing sudden inhalation accompanied by closure of the glottis (and thus the trachea or windpipe). Fetuses can start to demonstrate this movement pattern at 9-11 weeks of gestation (see figure below). The actual causes of hiccupping in the fetus are unknown. With a first age of appearance of 9-11 …
Heteronomy
Acceptance of externally defined rules, laws and norms; originating outside the self. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), following Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), considered the imposition of laws from without to be non-moral, or a least leading to a spurious form of morality. The opposite of heteronomy is autonomy. Heteronomy in a developmental context would be, for example. the education of …
Heuristic
A rule-of-thumb procedure or trial-and-error problem-solving process for making a decision or forming a judgment, without resorting to an algorithm or formal reasoning. The use of analogies or metaphors can be part of such a process. While its aim is to reduce the time taken to arrive at a solution, it does not guarantee the …
Heterochrony
Originally introduced into evolutionary biology by Gavin de Beer (1899-1972) to account for evolutionary change in the onset or timing of development. Applied to development, it portrays it as a mixture of different timings in the appearance of structures and functions, with some being accelerated and others relatively retarded. Slower developing structures and functions act …
Heterogeneity
The presence of two or more sub-groups within a population or group of behaviors. See Polymorphism, Population (biology and ecology)
Hermeneutics (and phenomenology)
Hermeneutics is a theory and methodology of interpretation that emerged from German theology and literature referring to the process through which people interpret classic written texts (see Packer, 1985). Namedafter Hermes, who was messenger of the Greek gods, interpreting their messagesfor mortals. A hermeneutic interpretation requires one to understand and sympathize with the point-of-view of another. …
Hereditary
Genetic material and information passed on from individuals of one generation to the next. Genetic material and hereditary are not synonymous; for example, a fertilized egg contains much cytoplasm that is non-genetic. Also, material passed from the mother to the embryo via the placenta is in a sense hereditary, but again not genetic. See Behavior …