Question 1

What happens to the FMR1 gene if the nucleotide sequence C, G, G repeats itself about 200 times?

Accepted Answer

When the FMR1 gene has a CGG nucleotide sequence that repeats itself about 200 times or more, it leads to the gene being turned off. This is due to a mechanism called methylation, which silences the gene, causing Fragile X syndrome.

Question 2

Individuals with fragile X syndrome typically have an IQ below ______, while those with phenylketonuria show an IQ level of about ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Individuals with fragile X syndrome typically have...

Question 3

Which latest virus outbreak became a serious concern when babies born to infected mothers showed smaller-than-normal brains?

Accepted Answer

The Zika virus outbreak became a serious concern due to its association with microcephaly and other birth defects in babies born to infected mothers.

Question 4

The term "microcephaly" refers to ______.

Accepted Answer

Microcephaly is a medical condition in which the brain does not develop properly resulting in a smaller-than-normal head.

Question 5

In a study using stem cells, it was determined that the Zika infection affected brain development by ______.

Accepted Answer

Zika infection affects brain development by both increasing cell death and disrupting the cell cycle, which can lead to microcephaly and other brain abnormalities.

Question 6

This disorder is characterized by social deficits, communication difficulties, and repetitive behaviors.

Accepted Answer

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by social deficits, communication difficulties, and repetitive behaviors.

Question 7

Autism spectrum disorder includes all of the following EXCEPT ______.

Accepted Answer

Down syndrome is not considered a part of the autism spectrum disorder. It is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21.

Question 8

The prevalence of ASD from 2000 to 2012 has ______.

Accepted Answer

The prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has increased from 2000 to 2012, according to multiple studies and reports, including those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This increase is attributed to better awareness, broader diagnostic criteria, and improved diagnostic practices over the years.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT typical in individuals with ASD?

Accepted Answer

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have difficulty with both verbal and nonverbal communication. This includes challenges in understanding gestures, facial expressions, and tone of voice, as well as difficulties in using language effectively for communication. Therefore, stating that they have trouble understanding nonverbal but not verbal communication is not accurate, as challenges can exist in both areas.

Question 10

Someone with ASD might think that other people can read minds, because they can correctly predict what someone else is about to do. This is because individuals with ASD lack a ______.

Accepted Answer

Individuals with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) may struggle with theory of mind, which is the ability to understand that other people have their own thoughts, feelings, and perspectives that are different from one's own. This can lead to challenges in predicting and interpreting others' behaviors accurately.

Question 11

One of the symptoms of autism is echolalia, which is when the child ______.

Accepted Answer

Echolalia is a condition often observed in individuals with autism, where they repetitively mimic or repeat what others say.

Question 12

Children with autism often lack a theory of mind. In other words, they ______.

Accepted Answer

Children with autism often struggle with theory of mind, which means they have difficulty understanding that other people have their own thoughts, beliefs, intents, or desires that are different from their own. This does not mean they lack their own thoughts or that they cannot learn from past mistakes; rather, it's about recognizing and interpreting the mental states of others.

Question 13

When a person says, "I do not understand how people can communicate just by looking at each other. It's as though they can read each other's thoughts," he/she shows evidence of ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a person says, "I do not...

Question 14

Researchers suggest that impairment in ______ reduces an autistic person's ability to empathize with others.

Accepted Answer

Mirror neuron functioning is associated with the ability to empathize by mirroring or simulating the emotional experiences of others, and impairments in this area have been suggested to reduce an autistic person's ability to empathize.

Question 15

One possible explanation for the deficits in social, language, and emotional functioning among autistic individuals is ______.

Accepted Answer

Overgrowth of frontal and temporal brain areas during development is associated with atypical neural connectivity, which can contribute to deficits in social, language, and emotional functioning in autistic individuals.

Question 16

In an attempt to reconcile opposing findings in regard to how much connectivity occurs in the autistic brain, it has been suggested that ______ occurs in milder cases of ASD, while ______ occurs in more severe cases.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In an attempt to reconcile opposing findings...

Question 17

In an attempt to reconcile opposing findings in regard to how much connectivity occurs in the autistic brain, it has been suggested that ______ occurs in earlier-maturing cortical areas, while ______ occurs later-maturing cortical areas.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In an attempt to reconcile opposing findings...

Question 18

The antipsychotic drug risperidone acts as an antagonist to both ______, thus improving several autism symptoms.

Accepted Answer

Risperidone acts as an antagonist to both dopamine and serotonin receptors, which helps in managing symptoms of autism as well as other psychiatric disorders by balancing certain neurotransmitters in the brain.

Question 19

Oxytocin supplementation has been shown to improve ______ by reducing fearful responses in the midbrain and amygdala.

Accepted Answer

Oxytocin is known as the "love hormone" and is associated with social bonding, trust, and reducing fear responses, particularly in the brain regions like the amygdala.

Question 20

Which of following is NOT correlated with increases in autism?

Accepted Answer

Research has not established a direct correlation between autism and parental treatment or abuse. Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with evidence pointing towards genetic, environmental, and biological factors, but not parental behavior in terms of abuse or treatment.

Quiz 13: Intelligence and Cognitive Functioning