Question 1

From childhood through adolescence, there is a(n) _______ of white matter and a(n) _______ of gray matter.

Accepted Answer

During childhood and adolescence, there is an increase in white matter due to myelination, which enhances neural connectivity, and a decrease in gray matter due to synaptic pruning, which refines neural circuits.

Question 2

Why might the impression of young teens as being impulsive and poor planners have some merit?

Accepted Answer

The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and planning, is one of the last areas of the brain to fully develop, often not maturing until the mid-20s. This can contribute to impulsive behavior and poor planning in young teens.

Question 3

Which statement provides evidence of gender differences in brain development?

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that gray matter in certain brain regions, such as the parietal lobe and basal ganglia, tends to peak earlier in females than in males, suggesting differences in the timing of brain development between genders.

Question 4

Which would be expected of brain connectivity in middle childhood?

Accepted Answer

During middle childhood, brain connectivity becomes more complex as the brain continues to develop and refine its neural networks, improving cognitive abilities and processing efficiency.

Question 5

If researchers want to examine changes in brain connectivity from childhood through adolescence, they would most likely be using

Accepted Answer

fMRI measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow. These changes can be used to create images of the brain's functional networks, which are the connections between different brain regions. By comparing fMRI scans of children and adolescents, researchers can examine changes in brain connectivity that occur during this developmental period.

Question 6

Why is synchronized brain wave activity important?

Accepted Answer

Synchronized brain wave activity is important because it is associated with the coordination and integration of different brain regions, which is essential for performing complex learning tasks.

Question 7

Which statement reflects findings on brain associations to children's performance on Piaget's tasks of conservation?

Accepted Answer

Children who succeeded on Piaget's conservation tasks demonstrated more coordinated brain activity, indicating that successful performance is associated with better integration and connectivity between brain regions.

Question 8

Slight differences in brain development into middle childhood have led to some children with _______ showing different brain volume and continued emphasis on short-range neural communication.

Accepted Answer

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulty paying attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. It is associated with differences in brain development, including reduced brain volume and continued emphasis on short-range neural communication.

Question 9

The negative impact of poverty on brain development includes

Accepted Answer

Poverty can lead to reduced gray matter and white matter in the brain, which are crucial for processing information and communication between different brain regions.

Question 10

Jane is concerned that her 12-year-old son is starting to experience leg pains. The doctor reassures Jane that this is common and is likely due to

Accepted Answer

The surge in muscle mass at this age can cause leg pains.

Question 11

Brain scans of children living in poverty show differences in size and function compared to those growing up in homes with higher incomes. This is partially due to

Accepted Answer

Children living in poverty often experience more stressful life events and may be exposed to less sensitive parenting, which can impact brain development and function.

Question 12

Which provides an example of a common gross motor skill in childhood?

Accepted Answer

Throwing a ball is a gross motor skill, which involves large muscle movements and coordination.

Question 13

Changes in gross motor skills during middle childhood include

Accepted Answer

During middle childhood, gross motor skills improve in strength, flexibility, balance, and agility, which are crucial for physical activities and coordination.

Question 14

Participation in formal and informal sports and other physical activity has benefits that include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Participation in sports and physical activities typically helps in maintaining or reducing weight, rather than causing weight gain.

Question 15

Cathy, who has not played organized sports before, has joined the middle school track team. A few weeks after she started, she experienced severe pain in her legs, especially around the knees. What might explain this sudden pain and inflammation around her knees?

Accepted Answer

Osgood-Schlatter disease is a common cause of knee pain in adolescents, especially those who have recently increased their physical activity, such as joining a sports team.

Question 16

Children tend to have better control over their fine motor skills as evidenced by their handwriting and detail in drawings. Developments in such abilities are often seen in children around age

Accepted Answer

Around age 8, children typically show significant improvements in fine motor skills, which is reflected in their handwriting and the detail in their drawings.

Question 17

Which is not an example of a fine motor skill in middle childhood?

Accepted Answer

Throwing a ball is considered a gross motor skill, which involves larger movements and the use of large muscle groups, unlike fine motor skills that require precision and coordination of small muscles.

Question 18

In the beginning of middle childhood

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the beginning of middle childhood
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Question 19

Participation in organized sports is associated with

Accepted Answer

The answer of Participation in organized sports is associated with
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Question 20

Which statement is consistent with findings about gender differences in motor skills?

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that girls generally excel in tasks requiring balance and agility, while boys often perform better in tasks requiring strength.

Quiz 11: Physical Development and Health in Middle Childhood

From childhood through adolescence, there is a(n) _ of white matter and a(n) _ of gray matter.