Question 1

With repeated presentations of a bright red toy,2-month-old Anita began to respond with less visual attention to the toy.Her decreasing responsiveness best illustrates

Accepted Answer

The decreasing responsiveness of Anita to the bright red toy with repeated presentations is an example of habituation, which is a decrease in responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations. This is a common form of learning observed in infants and animals.

Question 2

If a pregnant woman experiences extreme stress,the stress hormones flooding her body may threaten survival of the fetus and trigger a premature birth.In this situation,the mother's stress hormones are most clearly

Accepted Answer

The stress hormones flooding the mother's body in this situation are not enzymes, neural networks, or placentas. They are not teratogens themselves, but they can trigger a premature birth which could put the fetus at risk of exposure to teratogens outside of the womb.

Question 3

Madison drank contaminated water,which contained toxic molecules that blocked the expression of some of her genes.As a result,she is now highly allergic to certain foods.This best illustrates the impact of

Accepted Answer

The toxic molecules in the contaminated water blocked the expression of some of Madison's genes, leading to changes in her phenotype (allergies to certain foods). This is an example of epigenetic marks, which are chemical modifications to the DNA molecule that can turn genes on or off without changing the underlying genetic sequence.

Question 4

Newborns have been observed to show the greatest visual interest in a

Accepted Answer

Newborn babies have been observed to show the greatest visual interest in face-like images. This is likely due to their innate ability to recognize and respond to human faces, which is crucial for their social and cognitive development.

Question 5

Babies are born with several reflexes for getting food.One of these is to

Accepted Answer

The reflex described in option C is known as the rooting reflex, where a baby will turn its head and open its mouth in search of a nipple when the cheek is touched. This is an important reflex for newborns to locate and obtain food. The other options refer to different reflexes, such as the withdrawal reflex (A), the Moro reflex (B), and the preference for face-like images (D), but they are not directly related to obtaining food.

Question 6

A reflex refers to

Accepted Answer

A reflex is an automatic and involuntary response to sensory stimulation, such as blinking in response to a sudden light. Choices A, B, and D do not accurately describe the concept of a reflex.

Question 7

The symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome are most likely to include

Accepted Answer

Fetal alcohol syndrome is caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and it can lead to mental abnormalities including intellectual disabilities, learning disorders, and behavioral problems. While other symptoms such as visual impairments, hearing problems, and habituation may occur, they are less commonly associated with FAS.

Question 8

Melissa suffered a severe viral infection during her fourth month of pregnancy that caused her baby to be born with an abnormal heart valve.In this instance,the virus was clearly a

Accepted Answer

A teratogen is any substance or agent that can cause malformation or abnormal development of an embryo or fetus. In this case, the viral infection during pregnancy led to the baby being born with a heart valve abnormality, making the virus a teratogen.

Question 9

When placed between a gauze pad from their nursing mother's bra and one from another nursing mother,week-old nursing babies are likely to

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that newborn babies have a strong sense of smell and can differentiate between the scent of their own mother's breast milk and that of another nursing mother. When presented with two gauze pads, one from their own mother's bra and one from another nursing mother, they are likely to turn their head towards the scent of their own mother's pad. This indicates that they recognize and prefer the scent of their mother's breast milk.

Question 10

An infant's tendency to automatically grasp objects placed in his or her hands best illustrates

Accepted Answer

The automatic grasping of objects placed in an infant's hand is an example of a reflex response. It is a natural and automatic response that does not require conscious thought or learning. Object permanence and insecure attachment are related to the development of social and cognitive skills later in life, while basic trust refers to a sense of security and predictability in the world that develops over time through positive experiences with caregivers.

Question 11

Habituation refers to the

Accepted Answer

Habituation is the process of becoming less responsive to a stimulus after repeated exposure. This can happen in both humans and animals, and is a normal part of learning and adapting to the environment. The other options do not accurately define habituation.

Question 12

Alcohol may cause fetal damage by leaving chemical marks on DNA that switch genes abnormally on or off.This best illustrates

Accepted Answer

This question is referring to the concept of epigenetics, which is the study of how environmental factors can affect gene expression without actually changing the genetic code itself. Alcohol exposure is one example of an environmental factor that cancause changes in gene expression through epigenetic effects, such as leaving chemical marks on DNA. Choice C, "an epigenetic effect," is the best answer to describe this phenomenon.

Question 13

Mr.Hersch triggered a rooting reflex in his infant son by touching him on the

Accepted Answer

The rooting reflex is a reflex that helps infants find their mother's nipple for feeding. When the side of an infant's cheek is touched, they will turn and open their mouth in search of the nipple. Therefore, Mr. Hersch triggered the rooting reflex in his infant son by touching him on the cheek.

Question 14

Infant visual preferences have been discovered by assessing infants'

Accepted Answer

Infant visual preferences are typically assessed through the use of a habituation paradigm, in which infants are repeatedly presented with a stimulus until they become bored or habituated to it. Researchers then measure the length of time infants spend looking at a new or novel stimulus, which provides an indication of their visual preferences. Other measures, such as reflexes or genetic inheritance, are not typically used to assess infant visual preferences. The stage of development may be considered in designing the habituation paradigm, but it is not itself a method of assessment.

Question 15

French toddlers preferred playing with chamomile-scented toys if

Accepted Answer

The French toddlers preferred playing with chamomile-scented toys if their mothers had once used a skin balm with a chamomile scent. This suggests that the toddlers were influenced by their previous exposure to the chamomile scent through their mothers. The other options are not relevant and do not explain the toddlers' preference for chamomile-scented toys.

Question 16

One of the most consistently damaging teratogens is

Accepted Answer

Alcohol is a well-known teratogen that can cause a range of birth defects and developmental abnormalities, including facial dysmorphology, growth retardation, and central nervous system dysfunction. It is especially damaging during the first trimester of pregnancy when the major organs and nervous system are forming.

Question 17

After having been exposed to a vibrating,honking device placed on its mother's abdomen,a fetus demonstrates

Accepted Answer

Habituation is a decrease in response to a stimulus after being repeatedly exposed to it. In this scenario, the fetus has been exposed to a vibrating, honking device on its mother's abdomen, so if it shows a decreased response to the stimulus over time, it is demonstrating habituation. The other answer choices are not supported by the information given.

Question 18

Elvira continued to smoke when she was pregnant with Darcy.As an infant,Darcy's ability to handle stress was weakened.This best illustrates the impact of

Accepted Answer

The scenario illustrates the impact of epigenetic marks, which are chemical modifications to DNA that can change gene expression without altering the DNA sequence itself. These marks can be influenced by environmental factors, including the mother's behaviors during pregnancy, and can affect the offspring's development and stress response.

Question 19

While holding her friend's newborn,Brenda caresses the baby's cheek.The baby turns her head toward the touch and opens her mouth.The baby will next

Accepted Answer

This is the rooting reflex where babies turn their head and open their mouth in search of a nipple for feeding. It is a natural reflex that ensures the baby gets the necessary nourishment. Sucking on Brenda's hand or extending arms and legs are not part of this reflex and crying may or may not occur depending on the baby's needs.

Question 20

When pregnant rats drink alcohol,their young offspring later display a(n)

Accepted Answer

When pregnant rats drink alcohol, their offspring later display a liking for the taste and odor of alcohol. This is because exposure to alcohol in the womb can alter the development of the brain's reward system, making the offspring more susceptible to the rewarding effects of alcohol.

Quiz 4: Developing Through the Life Span