Johann lives in a family with five siblings.There is always a lot of activity and interaction between the children and parents.There are many brightly colored toys and things to play with.Suzanne's family can't afford many toys at all,and she has only old hand-me-downs to play with,most of which are broken.Which of the following best describes a likely difference in brain development between Johann and Suzanne?
A)The "use it or lose it" idea would indicate that,since Johann is in a more stimulating environment than Suzanne,his brain will have a denser network of neurons and synapses.
B)Johann's neurons will myelinate more quickly and completely than Suzanne's.
C)Since Johann and Suzanne are both under two years of age,the differences in environment will have little impact.
D)The principle of synaptic pruning says that since Johann is in a more stimulating environment than Suzanne,his brain will have a smaller number of synapses.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The "use it or lose it" principle suggests that the brain will build stronger neural connections in response to more stimulating environments. Therefore, Johann's brain is likely to have a denser network of neurons and synapses compared to Suzanne's brain, as he has access to more toys and a more stimulating environment. Myelination (B) and synaptic pruning (D) are also important processes in brain development, but they are not directly related to the difference in environment between Johann and Suzanne. Option C is incorrect because environmental factors can have a significant impact on brain development, even in early childhood.

Johann Lives in a Family with Five Siblings