Question 1

As children grow older, many of their neurons begin to transmit messages more rapidly than they did previously, thanks to:
A) synaptic pruning
B) synaptogenesis
C) myelination
D) a rapid reduction in glial cells

Accepted Answer

Myelination is the process by which myelin sheaths are formed around the axons of neurons, which significantly increases the speed at which electrical impulses (messages) are transmitted between neurons.

Question 2

Three-month-old Mary Jo can hold her head up when in the arms of an adult, but she doesn't yet have much control of what her legs do. Which one of the following best describes Mary Jo's progression in muscular control?
A) It shows a definite delay in fine motor skills.
B) It shows a cephalocaudal trend, which is typical.
C) It shows a proximodistal trend, which is not typical.
D) It suggests that Mary Jo will probably be a good student but a poor athlete.

Accepted Answer

Mary Jo's progression in muscular control demonstrates a cephalocaudal trend, where development and muscular control progress from the head down through the body. This is typical for infants, as they first gain control over their head and neck muscles before those of the lower body.

Question 3

The shift from generalized possibilities to specialized functioning over the course of development is known as:
A) Myelination
B) Integration
C) Maturation
D) Differentiation

Accepted Answer

Differentiation refers to the process by which cells or parts of an organism change during development to serve specific functions. In the context of development, it describes how behaviors and processes become more specialized and refined over time.

Question 4

As she runs a race, Aggie's heart starts beating faster to help her body keep up with its increasing need for oxygen. Aggie can largely thank her _______ for this change.
A) forebrain
B) midbrain
C) hindbrain
D) hippocampus

Accepted Answer

The hindbrain, which includes structures such as the medulla oblongata, plays a crucial role in regulating autonomic functions like heart rate. This is why Aggie's heart beats faster during a race, to meet the body's increased demand for oxygen.

Question 5

The process of fingers becoming more adept at handling small objects is an example of:
A) Integration
B) Maturation
C) Myelination
D) Differentiation

Accepted Answer

The answer of The process of fingers becoming more adept...

Question 6

Imagine that you are the parent of a newborn baby boy. A pediatrician tells you, "About half of the neurons that your son produced in the early weeks after conception have died off." From this information, you should conclude that your son:
A) Will need to be on a respirator for the first few weeks, possibly longer
B) May have difficulty learning to read and write
C) Will have trouble with muscular coordination and will probably need intensive physical therapy
D) Is normal

Accepted Answer

This process described by the pediatrician is a normal part of brain development known as synaptic pruning, where excess neurons and synaptic connections are eliminated to increase the efficiency of neuronal transmissions.

Question 7

Dylan recently experienced a traumatic brain injury. One of the most notable consequences of the injury is a sharp decline in Dylan's ability to communicate. Whereas Dylan was previously eloquent in his speaking and writing, he now struggles to make himself understood. From this information, you surmise that the part of Dylan's brain that was injured was:
A) the cortex
B) the medulla
C) the hindbrain
D) the cerebellum

Accepted Answer

The cortex, particularly the areas known as Broca's and Wernicke's areas, is responsible for language processing and production. Damage to these areas can lead to difficulties in speaking and writing, which aligns with Dylan's symptoms.

Question 8

As Charlie reads his science textbook, he encounters the word ecology for the first time and uses the context to figure out what the word means. Given what we know about how the brain functions, we could reasonably assume that:
A) He is thinking primarily in his right hemisphere.
B) Many parts of his brain are involved in this task.
C) Most of his mental "work" is done in his midbrain.
D) Most of his mental "work" is done in the occipital lobes, at the back of his brain.

Accepted Answer

Understanding and inferring the meaning of a new word like "ecology" from context involves multiple cognitive processes, including language comprehension, memory recall, and contextual reasoning. These processes are distributed across various parts of the brain, including the language areas (Broca's and Wernicke's areas), the prefrontal cortex (for reasoning and decision-making), and the hippocampus (for memory). Therefore, it's not limited to a single hemisphere or a specific part of the brain.

Question 9

Physical development is characterized by both differentiation and integration. Which statement best describes the functioning of these two processes in physical development?
A) There is a period of differentiation followed by a period of integration.
B) There is a period of integration followed by a period of differentiation.
C) Differentiation and integration occur simultaneously and interactively.
D) Their relative importance varies depending on the physical system in question.

Accepted Answer

Differentiation and integration occur simultaneously and interactively throughout physical development, with both processes contributing to the complexity and functionality of the body's systems.

Question 10

The principle Children's bodies are dynamic systems means that:
A) Development in one component of the body may affect development in another component.
B) Children's growth reflects a continuing pattern of speeding up, slowing down, speeding up, slowing down again, and so on.
C) Development proceeds in a top-down fashion, from the head to the feet.
D) Development proceeds in an in-out fashion, beginning with the head and torso and proceeding to the arms and legs and then to the fingers and toes.

Accepted Answer

This principle highlights the interconnectedness of different parts of the body in development. Changes or growth in one area can influence or trigger changes in another, reflecting the dynamic and integrated nature of physical development in children.

Question 11

Three of the following statements accurately describe the typical physical development of children in the elementary grades. Which one is not accurate?
A) Girls mature more quickly than boys.
B) Children become more clumsy in their gross motor skills.
C) Children become increasingly proficient in fine motor skills.
D) Children become increasingly sensitive about their physical appearance.

Accepted Answer

During the elementary school years, children typically improve in both gross and fine motor skills, becoming less clumsy, not more. Choices A, C, and D accurately describe typical developments in this age group.

Question 12

In the human brain, a great deal of synaptic pruning occurs in the first few years of development. This pruning appears to be:
A) An adaptive process that allows children to deal more efficiently with their environment
B) Due to an imbalance of important nutrients, and especially to low levels of the B vitamins in many children's diets
C) Reflective of the fact that the cortex is slowly taking over responsibility for functions that have previously been controlled by other parts of the brain
D) The unfortunate result of insufficiently stimulating home and school environments

Accepted Answer

Synaptic pruning is an adaptive process that removes less active synapses to enhance the efficiency of neuronal transmissions, allowing for more efficient processing and adaptation to the environment. This is not primarily due to nutritional deficiencies, the cortex taking over functions, or insufficient stimulation, but rather a natural part of brain development.

Question 13

At age 3, Michelle could scribble, her crayon tightly grasped in her fist. By age 4 she could color neatly in the lines of her coloring book. By age 5 she could better control a pencil and write her name legibly. This progression most clearly illustrates:
A) integration
B) differentiation
C) synaptogenesis
D) an executive function

Accepted Answer

Differentiation refers to the process by which behaviors and physical structures become more specialized and efficient over time. Michelle's progression from scribbling to coloring within lines to writing her name legibly demonstrates increasing specialization and improvement in her fine motor skills, which is a clear example of differentiation.

Question 14

Seventeen-year-old Jonathan has suddenly started "hearing scary voices" in his head, and he worries that someone is "out to get" him. Which one of the following brain abnormalities might we suspect?
A) Neurofibromatosis
B) Schizophrenia
C) Turner syndrome
D) Fetal alcohol syndrome

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations (such as hearing voices), and paranoia, which aligns with the symptoms described for Jonathan. The other options are associated with different symptoms and conditions not directly related to the described presentation.

Question 15

Which one of the following conclusions is most warranted from research on brain development?
A) It is essential that children begin studying basic mathematics and science in the preschool years.
B) Educators and counselors should interpret lack of impulse control in children over six years old as a sign of a significant delay in brain development.
C) The ability to think abstractly depends on the development of many synaptic connections during the first two years of life.
D) Educational experiences can affect students' cognitive development throughout the elementary and secondary school years.

Accepted Answer

Research on brain development supports the idea that educational experiences can influence cognitive development at various stages, including during elementary and secondary school years. This reflects the brain's plasticity and its ability to grow and change in response to learning and environmental stimuli.

Question 16

Which one of the following best describes how neurons transmit messages to one another?
A) By stimulating the flow of blood in nearby arteries
B) By generating myelin in the synapses
C) By fusing together into a single neuron
D) By sending chemical substances to one another

Accepted Answer

Neurons transmit messages to one another through synapses, where the axon terminal of one neuron releases neurotransmitters (chemical substances) into the synaptic cleft. These neurotransmitters then bind to receptors on the dendrite of another neuron, facilitating the transmission of the message.

Question 17

Katie is enraptured by the symphony she is listening to. The interweaving of returning themes and novel elements gives her a sense of both comfort and delight. Given that Katie is right-handed, the _______ is probably the part of her brain that is enabling her to appreciate the music.
A) midbrain
B) hindbrain
C) left hemisphere of her cortex
D) right hemisphere of her cortex

Accepted Answer

The right hemisphere of the cortex is primarily responsible for processing music, spatial abilities, and the recognition of faces and patterns. In Katie's case, her appreciation of the symphony's themes and novel elements is facilitated by the right hemisphere of her brain, which is adept at handling tasks related to creativity, intuition, and the arts. This is irrespective of her being right-handed, as lateralization of brain function does not strictly align with handedness in such contexts.

Question 18

Rafael is carefully weighing the many advantages and disadvantages of attending a large state university rather than a small local college. Rafael can largely thank his _______ for the ability to make his decision.
A) forebrain
B) midbrain
C) hindbrain
D) cerebellum

Accepted Answer

The forebrain is responsible for complex cognitive functions, including decision-making, problem-solving, and planning, which are essential for weighing the advantages and disadvantages of different options, such as choosing between attending a large state university or a small local college.

Question 19

Which one of the following is the best example of a gross motor skill?
A) sewing on a button
B) writing a letter to Grandma
C) skipping across the schoolyard
D) cutting out a heart for a Valentine's Day card

Accepted Answer

Gross motor skills involve the movement and coordination of the arms, legs, and other large body parts. Skipping across the schoolyard is an example of a gross motor skill because it requires whole-body movement and coordination.

Question 20

The coordination between cells and body parts is known as:
A) Differentiation
B) Integration
C) Initial motor activity
D) Mature motor activity

Accepted Answer

Integration is the process through which different parts of an organism work together in a coordinated manner. This includes the coordination between cells and body parts to ensure the organism functions as a whole.

Quiz 5: Physical Development

As children grow older, many of their neurons begin to transmit messages more rapidly than they did previously, thanks to:

Three-month-old Mary Jo can hold her head up when in the arms of an adult, but she doesn't yet have much control of what her legs do. Which one of the following best describes Mary Jo's progression in muscular control?

The shift from generalized possibilities to specialized functioning over the course of development is known as:

As she runs a race, Aggie's heart starts beating faster to help her body keep up with its increasing need for oxygen. Aggie can largely thank her _______ for this change.

The process of fingers becoming more adept at handling small objects is an example of:

Imagine that you are the parent of a newborn baby boy. A pediatrician tells you, "About half of the neurons that your son produced in the early weeks after conception have died off." From this information, you should conclude that your son:

As Charlie reads his science textbook, he encounters the word ecology for the first time and uses the context to figure out what the word means. Given what we know about how the brain functions, we could reasonably assume that:

Physical development is characterized by both differentiation and integration. Which statement best describes the functioning of these two processes in physical development?

The principle Children's bodies are dynamic systems means that:

Three of the following statements accurately describe the typical physical development of children in the elementary grades. Which one is not accurate?

In the human brain, a great deal of synaptic pruning occurs in the first few years of development. This pruning appears to be:

At age 3, Michelle could scribble, her crayon tightly grasped in her fist. By age 4 she could color neatly in the lines of her coloring book. By age 5 she could better control a pencil and write her name legibly. This progression most clearly illustrates:

Seventeen-year-old Jonathan has suddenly started "hearing scary voices" in his head, and he worries that someone is "out to get" him. Which one of the following brain abnormalities might we suspect?

Which one of the following conclusions is most warranted from research on brain development?

Which one of the following best describes how neurons transmit messages to one another?

Katie is enraptured by the symphony she is listening to. The interweaving of returning themes and novel elements gives her a sense of both comfort and delight. Given that Katie is right-handed, the _______ is probably the part of her brain that is enabling her to appreciate the music.

Rafael is carefully weighing the many advantages and disadvantages of attending a large state university rather than a small local college. Rafael can largely thank his _______ for the ability to make his decision.

Which one of the following is the best example of a gross motor skill?

The coordination between cells and body parts is known as: