Question 1

A reflex is best described as

Accepted Answer

A reflex is an involuntary response to a specific stimulus. It is not learned and does not require conscious thought or effort. Therefore, the best description of a reflex is unlearned and involuntary.

Question 2

Which reflex disappears first as the infant matures?

Accepted Answer

The grasping reflex typically disappears by 3-4 months of age as the infant develops more intentional motor control. The other reflexes listed may persist longer, with the swallowing and breathing reflexes needed for survival and the pupillary reflex being a normal response to changes in light.

Question 3

The defining feature of a survival reflex is that it

Accepted Answer

The defining feature of a survival reflex is that it has clear adaptive value, meaning it is essential for the survival of the individual. Survival reflexes are innate and present from birth, but they can fade with age as they become less necessary for survival. They are not necessarily linked to eating, and they do not have a specific timeline for when they are learned.

Question 4

The leading cause of death during the first year of life is

Accepted Answer

Congenital malformations are abnormalities in the structure or function of an organ, present at birth. This includes conditions like heart defects, neural tube defects, and chromosomal abnormalities, which can all contribute to infant mortality. In the US, congenital malformations are the leading cause of death for infants, accounting for 20% of all infant deaths.

Question 5

As an average newborn, Kit would spend about ______ percent of his sleeping hours in REM sleep.

Accepted Answer

On average, newborns spend about 50% of their sleeping hours in REM sleep. This gradually decreases as they grow older. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Question 6

An organized and individualized pattern of daily activity found in an infant is called a

Accepted Answer

A behavioral state refers to the organized and individualized patterns of activity and rest that infants exhibit, such as sleeping and waking cycles.

Question 7

Concerning sleep, REM stands for

Accepted Answer

REM stands for rapid eye movement, which is a stage of sleep where the eyes move rapidly and we experience vivid dreams. Option B, C, and D do not accurately describe the meaning of REM.

Question 8

Which reflex is NOT a survival reflex?

Accepted Answer

The toe-fanning reflex is not a survival reflex. It is simply an automatic response caused by stimulation of the soles of the feet. The other reflexes listed (breathing, sucking, and eye-blinking) are all necessary for survival.

Question 9

Molly strokes the bottom of her baby Martin's foot and watches his toes fan out and then curl. Martin is exhibiting the _____ reflex.

Accepted Answer

The Babinski reflex is when the toes fan out and curl in response to the bottom of the foot being stroked.

Question 10

From age 2 until puberty, children typically gain _____ inches and _____ pounds per year.

Accepted Answer

Children typically grow about 2 to 3 inches in height and gain about 5 to 6 pounds in weight each year from age 2 until puberty.

Question 11

Which reflex is permanent?

Accepted Answer

The eye-blink reflex is a permanent reflex that remains throughout life.

Question 12

When Donna puts her finger in her new baby's hand, the baby curls her fingers around Donna's finger because of the _____ reflex.

Accepted Answer

The grasping reflex is a natural reflex for infants to curl their fingers around an object that touches their palm, which is what the baby in this scenario is doing when Donna puts her finger in the baby's hand. The Moro reflex is a startle response, the rooting reflex is when a baby turns their head to search for a nipple to suck, and the Babinski reflex is when the toes splay out in response to the sole of the foot being stroked.

Question 13

Which reflex disappears in the first 8 weeks of life unless the infant has a chance to practice it?

Accepted Answer

The stepping reflex disappears in the first 8 weeks of life unless the infant has a chance to practice it by standing and moving their legs. The other reflexes listed - swimming, Moro, and grasping - do not necessarily disappear without practice.

Question 14

Which reflex evolves into the startle reflex?

Accepted Answer

The startle reflex is a continuation of the Moro reflex, present in newborns, which occurs in response to sudden movements or loud noises. As the baby grows, the Moro reflex diminishes and evolves into the startle reflex, which is a slightly less exaggerated reaction to sudden stimuli.

Question 15

When a typical infant attempts to kick a ball, it tends to do so with its "whole body." When a typical first-grader attempts to kick a ball, he or she tends to do so only using a foot. The change best exemplifies the _____ principle.

Accepted Answer

The orthogenetic principle refers to development starting globally and undifferentiated and moving towards increasing differentiation and hierarchical integration. The change from using the whole body to just the foot exemplifies this principle.

Question 16

The fact that activities of a toddler's arms are mastered before activities of their fingers illustrates the _____ principle.

Accepted Answer

The proximodistal principle states that development starts from the center of the body and moves outward towards the extremities, explaining why arm activities are mastered before finger activities.

Question 17

Infants may spend so much time in REM sleep because REM sleep is

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that REM sleep is important for learning and memory processes, which could be particularly crucial for infants as they are rapidly developing and learning about the world around them. There is no evidence to suggest that REM sleep is related to the formation of a strong id, muscle and reflex development, or breathing during sleep.

Question 18

During middle childhood (ages 6 to 11 years), growth

Accepted Answer

During middle childhood, growth gains are smaller in proportion to the child's size. This is because the preadolescent growth spurt has already occurred, and growth slows down until adolescence.

Question 19

Primitive reflexes

Accepted Answer

Primitive reflexes are automatic movements that occur in response to a specific stimulus, such as the rooting reflex in infants when their cheek is stroked. While they may serve a purpose early in development, such as helping with survival instincts, they typically disappear as the brain develops more sophisticated motor control. As such, they do not serve a clear purpose in later stages of development.

Question 20

Which reflex involves turning a cheek towards a tactile stimulus?

Accepted Answer

The rooting reflex involves turning the head and opening the mouth towards a tactile stimulus on the cheek or mouth. The sucking reflex involves the rhythmic sucking movements of the mouth in response to a stimulus. The grasping reflex involves the tightening of the fingers around an object placed in the palm. The blink reflex involves the automatic closing of the eyelids in response to a sudden bright light or object coming towards the eye.

Quiz 5: Body, Brain, Health