Question 1

Briefly describe the anatomy and function of the key cell found in the central nervous system and brain.

Accepted Answer

The neuron is the key cell found in the CNS. It has a cell body with nucleus, a dendritic tree, and an axon. The neuron receives and integrates information and transmits signals to other neurons

Question 2

What do individual differences between different people tell us about the processes that guide physical and motor development?

Accepted Answer

Development influenced by both nature and nurture, genetic predispositions are shaped and altered by the kind of experiences we have, leading to differences between individuals despite similar genetic makeups

Question 3

During infancy, 10 behavioral states of arousal can be discriminated. Give at least 3 reasons why states of arousal are important.

Accepted Answer

1. State determines how infants will respond to stimulation
2. State influences how adults respond to the child
3. State regularity serves as a marker of nervous system integrity
4. Abnormal sleep states can signal medical problems (such as epilepsy)

Question 4

Besides observing behavior, name at least two other measures that can be recorded/obtained from a child to measure development (such as CNS integrity or regulatory function).

Accepted Answer

The answer of Besides observing behavior, name at least two...

Question 5

In what ways is the brain plastic? Describe two forms of brain plasticity

Accepted Answer

The answer of In what ways is the brain plastic?...

Question 6

How many neurons are generated prenatally in the developing child?

Accepted Answer

An average of 250,000 new cells per minute are generated prenatally in the developing child.

Question 7

An example of cephalocaudal development would be:

Accepted Answer

Cephalocaudal development refers to the pattern of development from head to toe. Therefore, the visual system (located in the head) would mature before the locomotor muscles in the legs (located in the lower body).

Question 8

The fact that development in one domain (e.g., brain development) proceeds faster than development in another domain (e.g., secondary sexual characteristics) is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Independence of systems refers to the fact that different aspects of development can proceed at different rates and in different sequences, without being tightly linked or dependent on each other. In this case, brain development and sexual development are independent systems, so it is normal for one to develop more quickly than the other. Developmental delay (A) would imply that the slower development is abnormal or problematic, which is not necessarily the case. Developmental cascades (B) and hierarchical integration of development (D) both suggest that development is a sequential and interdependent process, which is not necessarily true for all aspects of development.

Question 9

Developmental outcomes can overcome less than optimal circumstances. For example, by age 8 years development of preterm infants typically catches up with the general population. This phenomenon is called:

Accepted Answer

Canalization refers to the ability of an organism to produce the same phenotype regardless of variability in its environment or genotype, allowing development to catch up under less than optimal circumstances.

Question 10

Dr Yin studies the onset and development of locomotion using parent diaries. In her data, she discovers a wide spread of ages for locomotion onset, ranging from 10 months to 18 months, with most children starting to walk at 14 months of age. What does this suggest about development of locomotion?

Accepted Answer

The wide range of ages for locomotion onset suggests that individual differences exist in the development of locomotion. However, the fact that most children start to walk at 14 months of age suggests that the distribution is normal. Therefore, both options a and b are correct. There is no evidence to suggest that parents are poor sources of information about children's development, so option c is incorrect.

Question 11

Regular sleep-wake cycles are important because

Accepted Answer

Regular sleep-wake cycles offer a window into the maturity and integrity of the nervous system, foster learning and development, and facilitate parenting by adding predictability. Therefore, all of the above choices are correct.

Question 12

What is meant by the term "kangaroo care", sometimes used with preterm infants to promote development?

Accepted Answer

Kangaroo care refers to the practice of holding a preterm infant skin-to-skin with the mother or father to promote bonding, improve sleep patterns, and support the infant's overall development. The warmth and closeness of the parent's body helps regulate the infant's temperature and respiratory rate, while the stimulation of touch and sound can promote brain development and growth. While kangaroo care may involve some gentle bouncing or movement, it is primarily about the skin-to-skin contact and nurturing touch between parent and infant.

Question 13

Some risks of co-sleeping are

Accepted Answer

Co-sleeping can result in infant death due to accidental suffocation, entrapment, or overlay. It can also disrupt parents' and babies' sleep, leading to stress and fatigue for all parties involved. Therefore, all of the above options are risks of co-sleeping.

Question 14

Some benefits of co-sleeping are

Accepted Answer

The answer of Some benefits of co-sleeping are
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Question 15

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) can be assessed via electrocardiograms as a measure for

Accepted Answer

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is a measure of the heart rate variability that occurs during breathing. As such, it reflects the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system in response to changes in respiration. Therefore, the best choice is A. Choice B coincides with the cortical brain activity and not the heart, C coincides with emotion in response to external and internal events, and D coincides with cardiac output and not the heart rate variability.

Question 16

Two common neurotransmitters in the human brain are

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine and norepinephrine are two of the most common neurotransmitters in the human brain. Acetylcholine is involved in processes such as muscle movement, memory, and learning. Norepinephrine is involved in processes related to attention, arousal, and mood.

Question 17

Arborization and synaptogenesis are processes that lead to

Accepted Answer

Arborization and synaptogenesis both involve the growth and development of new neuronal connections, which ultimately result in enhanced communication between neurons and increased capacity for information processing. Option B is incorrect because pruning is actually increased during these processes in order to refine and strengthen the neural connections. Option C is incorrect because arborization and synaptogenesis occur throughout the lifespan and are not specific to early development.

Question 18

Hebb's motor-neurological theory claims that

Accepted Answer

Hebb's motor-neurological theory is based on the principle that "cells that fire together, wire together." This means that neurons that repeatedly activate simultaneously become more strongly connected with each other. This, in turn, leads to the development of more complex neural networks and the ability to perform more sophisticated motor actions. Therefore, choice B is the best answer.

Question 19

Which statement is true about young infants with congenital cataracts?

Accepted Answer

CA cataract in the right eye disrupts visual input to the left hemisphere of the brain because visual information from the right field of vision (seen by both eyes) is processed in the left hemisphere, and vice versa. Also, early disruption in visual input, such as a cataract in the right eye during the first 6 months of life, can disrupt the development of specialized functions like face processing, potentially leading to lasting deficits. This is because the critical period for developing certain visual capabilities is very early in life, and any disruption in visual input can have long-term effects.

Question 20

EEG activity measured from the brain shows the following patterns of development from neonates to age 2 years.

Accepted Answer

EEG activity in neonates is characterized by low-voltage undifferentiated patterns, which gradually develop into high-amplitude burst-pause patterns until approximately 2 years of age. Therefore, option C is the correct choice.

Quiz 5: Physical and Motor Development in Infancy