The human fetus develops fingers and toes between 28 and 54 days after conception but cannot develop fingers and toes before or after that time. This is an example of _____.
A) a sensitive period
B) a critical period
C) discontinuity
D) continuity

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of a critical period, which is a specific and narrow time during development where certain experiences must occur for typical development to take place. In this case, the development of fingers and toes must occur during this specific time frame for proper development. A sensitive period is a broader period of time during which experiences can have an impact on development, but the impact may not be as critical as during a critical period. Discontinuity and continuity refer to different theories about how development occurs, and are not relevant to this specific example.

The Human Fetus Develops Fingers and Toes Between 28 and 54