Michael, a two-year-old, yells all day. He yells if someone gets near him. He yells if his train falls off the wooden track. He is angry, seemingly, all day. Given his developmental stage, his continuous anger probably comes from a fully developed _________ and an underdeveloped ___________.
A) amygdala; prefrontal cortex
B) prefrontal cortex; amygdala
C) amygdala; granular frontal cortex
D) granular frontal cortex; prefrontal cortex
E) granular frontal cortex; amygdala

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The amygdala is responsible for processing emotions, especially fear and anger. At the age of two, Michael's amygdala is fully developed, which could explain why he is experiencing anger all day long. On the other hand, the prefrontal cortex is responsible for regulating emotions and controlling impulsive behavior, and it continues to develop throughout childhood and adolescence. Therefore, Michael's underdeveloped prefrontal cortex could also be contributing to his inability to regulate his emotions and control his yelling.

Michael, a Two-Year-Old, Yells All Day