Question 1

For the average individual in late adulthood, traditional tests of intelligence demonstrate that _____.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that cognitive abilities tend to decline in late adulthood, particularly in areas such as processing speed, working memory, and spatial reasoning. However, other areas such as crystallized intelligence (accumulated knowledge and experience) tend to remain stable or even increase with age.

Question 2

Ralph was in a minor car accident in the grocery store parking lot. He backed his car into another car that was also backing out of a parking space. The other driver honked but Ralph didn't stop. Why not?

Accepted Answer

Ralph did not stop because the honking did not cross his sensory threshold, meaning he did not notice or register the sound due to various factors such as distractions or limited attention.

Question 3

People who are diagnosed with mild neurological disorder will _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of People who are diagnosed with mild neurological...

Question 4

Control processes depend on which part of the brain?

Accepted Answer

Control processes, such as decision-making, planning, and impulse control, are mainly associated with the prefrontal cortex of the brain. The amygdala is involved in emotional processing, the cerebellum in motor control, and the hypothalamus in regulating basic physiological functions, such as hunger and thirst.

Question 5

Dementia is _____.

Accepted Answer

Dementia is the pathological loss of brain functioning, specifically in areas related to memory, language, and decision-making. It is not benign forgetfulness and can affect individuals of any age, not just the elderly.

Question 6

According to the Seattle Longitudinal Study, the cognitive decline of late adulthood was most evident in which of the following primary mental abilities?

Accepted Answer

Processing speed is the primary mental ability that shows the most decline in late adulthood, according to the Seattle Longitudinal Study.

Question 7

The divide between what is sensed and what is not is known as the _____.

Accepted Answer

The divide between what is sensed and what is not is known as the sensory threshold.

Question 8

According to the most recent DSM (DSM-5), the appropriate term for the pathological loss of brain functioning is _____.

Accepted Answer

The most recent DSM (DSM-5) uses the term "neurocognitive disorders" instead of "dementia" or "senility" to refer to the pathological loss of brain functioning. "Delirium" refers to a temporary state of confusion and disorientation.

Question 9

The idea that cognition should be measured in terms of everyday tasks and circumstances is _____.

Accepted Answer

Ecological validity refers to the extent to which the findings of a study can be generalized to real-world settings. It relates to the idea that cognitive tasks should be designed to reflect the situations in which people naturally use their cognitive abilities, rather than being artificially created in a lab setting.

Question 10

According to the information-processing approach to cognition, which of the following is another term for the "sensing" stage of cognition?

Accepted Answer

The input stage of cognition is often referred to as the sensing stage, where a person processes external stimuli using their senses.

Question 11

Which of the following terms would be ageist?

Accepted Answer

"Senility" is a term that is often used to describe aging and mental decline, but it is an outdated and ageist term that shows prejudice against older adults. It implies that mental decline is a normal part of aging, which is not necessarily true. The other terms (dementia, major neurocognitive disorder, delirium) are more clinically accepted terms to describe cognitive impairment that can occur in individuals of various ages.

Question 12

Older adults have _____ vocabularies but _____ fluency.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Older adults have _____ vocabularies but _____...

Question 13

According to the Seattle Longitudinal Study, the five primary mental abilities _____ around age 60.

Accepted Answer

The Seattle Longitudinal Study found that the five primary mental abilities (verbal ability, inductive reasoning, spatial orientation, perceptual speed, and numeric ability) tend to decline around age 60.

Question 14

Storage mechanisms, retrieval strategies, selective attention, and problem solving are all considered _____.

Accepted Answer

Storage mechanisms, retrieval strategies, selective attention, and problem solving are all considered control processes, which are conscious processes that help manage and direct cognitive processes. They involve deliberate, intentional effort to regulate and manipulate information in the mind. Implicit memories and unconscious processes are more automatic and less under conscious control, while explicit memories involve consciously remembering specific information or events.

Question 15

Which of the following statements is characteristic of the memory of older adults?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that memory strategies can be effective in supporting memory performance in older adults. A study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that older adults who received training in memory strategies showed improvements in memory performance compared to a control group. This suggests that older adults can benefit from learning and utilizing memory strategies to support their memory function. The other statements are not accurately characteristic of the memory of older adults.

Question 16

Loss of working memory is particularly likely to affect the ability to _____.

Accepted Answer

Working memory is responsible for temporarily holding and manipulating information, such as repeating a sequence of numbers just heard. Therefore, loss of working memory would especially affect this ability.

Question 17

The ability to recall a string of digits backward tends to _____ with age, while memory for vocabulary tends to _____ with age.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ability to recall a string of...

Question 18

The primary reason older people receive less input into their brains is that _____.

Accepted Answer

As people age, their senses can decline, resulting in reduced sensory input into their brains. This can include decreased visual acuity, hearing loss, and reduced sensitivity to touch. As a result, older adults may not receive as much stimulation or input into their brains as younger people, which can impact their cognitive function over time.

Question 19

Control processes depend on the _____, which shrinks with age.

Accepted Answer

The prefrontal cortex is responsible for higher order executive functions, including decision making, planning, and impulse control. It is known to shrink with age, leading to a decline in control processes such as inhibiting inappropriate behaviors and regulating emotions. The other brain regions listed (amygdala, cerebellum, hypothalamus) are important for other functions such as emotion processing, motor coordination, and hormonal regulation, but not necessarily for control processes.

Question 20

One function of working memory is _____.

Accepted Answer

Working memory is responsible for temporarily storing information for conscious use, such as keeping track of instructions while carrying out a task or remembering a phone number before writing it down. It is a limited capacity system that can only hold onto information for a short period of time before either using it or losing it.

Quiz 24: Seciton 3: Late Adulthood: Cognitive Development