Which of the following is true of cognitive functioning and automobile accidents?
A)Middle-aged adults are more likely to get into an accident because of lapses in cognition and slower reaction times.
B)There isn't a statistically significant difference between the accident rates of middle-aged adults and younger adults.
C)Young adults are more likely to get into an accident because of larger synaptic gaps.
D)Young adults are more likely to get into an accident because of lapses of judgment and a higher likelihood of drinking alcohol.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Research has found that younger adults are more likely to get into automobile accidents due to their lapses of judgment and higher likelihood of drinking alcohol. This is because young adults' brains are not fully developed, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and impulse control. In contrast, middle-aged adults have generally more stable cognitive functioning, but reaction times may decrease with age. However, this decrease may be offset by experience and better judgment, resulting in no statistically significant difference in accident rates between middle-aged and younger adults. Option A is incorrect because it only addresses one aspect of cognitive functioning, and it is not necessarily true that middle-aged adults are more likely to get into accidents simply because of reduced reaction times. Option C is incorrect because larger synaptic gaps may actually be beneficial for cognitive functioning, specifically in learning and memory.

Which of the Following Is True of Cognitive Functioning and Automobile