Question 1

Briefly explain why select groups of people are more likely to develop disorders such as Turner Syndrome.

Accepted Answer

Disorders such as Turner syndrome are sex-linked genetic mutations that involve partial or missing X chromosomes. Therefore, females are at greater risk of developing the disorder as they possess two X chromosomes. It is rarely reported in males.

Question 2

Describe the relationship between language development and the concept of experience-expectant plasticity.

Accepted Answer

In infants, certain dense areas of the brain are in effect "expecting," or waiting
for speech. As speech input is channeled to select brain regions, the specialization of those brain areas and pathways strengthen. This provides the foundation for continued language development.

Question 3

Which provides the best example of canalization?

Accepted Answer

A)  Twins who reach different heights in adulthood 
B)  A boy born with blue eyes who now has brown eyes in adulthood 
C)  A son who grows to be nearly 5 inches taller than either parent 
D)  A daughter who reaches the same height as her biological mother 
E)  A girl with hazel eyes who still has hazel eyes in adulthood 
A)  Twins who reach different heights in adulthood 
B)  A boy born with blue eyes who now has brown eyes in adulthood 
C)  A son who grows to be nearly 5 inches taller than either parent 
D)  A daughter who reaches the same height as her biological mother 
E)  A girl with hazel eyes who still has hazel eyes in adulthood E

Question 4

Darius and Xavier are identical twins. At age 20, Darius was diagnosed with cancer but recovered with treatment. The two men are now 50 years old and Xavier has never been diagnosed with cancer. What concept might explain this difference?

Accepted Answer

A)  Gene therapy 
B)  Genetic transmission 
C)  Epigenetics 
D)  Evocative expression 
E)  Passive expression 
A)  Gene therapy 
B)  Genetic transmission 
C)  Epigenetics 
D)  Evocative expression 
E)  Passive expression

Question 5

Which is an accurate description of the hindbrain?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is responsible for complex thinking and planning. 
B)  It is responsible for regulating many basic life functions such as heart rate and digestion. 
C)  It is only found in humans, not animals. 
D)  It is responsible for communication between hemispheres. 
E)  It is the last portion of the brain to fully develop. 
A)  It is responsible for complex thinking and planning. 
B)  It is responsible for regulating many basic life functions such as heart rate and digestion. 
C)  It is only found in humans, not animals. 
D)  It is responsible for communication between hemispheres. 
E)  It is the last portion of the brain to fully develop.

Question 6

A child is confronted by an unfamiliar barking dog. The child's heart starts to race as he runs away. Which part of the brain helps prepare for this response to a fearful situation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Temporal lobe 
B)  Forebrain 
C)  Thalamus 
D)  Amygdala 
E)  Right hemisphere 
A)  Temporal lobe 
B)  Forebrain 
C)  Thalamus 
D)  Amygdala 
E)  Right hemisphere

Question 7

The death of superfluous neuronal connections is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  neurogenesis. 
B)  synaptogenesis. 
C)  pruning. 
D)  myelination 
E)  migration. 
A)  neurogenesis. 
B)  synaptogenesis. 
C)  pruning. 
D)  myelination 
E)  migration.

Question 8

James Watson and Francis Crick's description of the exact structure of DNA led to the

Accepted Answer

A)  discovery of chromosomes. 
B)  understanding of sex-linked traits. 
C)  later discovery of the genetic code. 
D)  belief that genes are immutable. 
E)  discovery of chromosomal abnormalities. 
A)  discovery of chromosomes. 
B)  understanding of sex-linked traits. 
C)  later discovery of the genetic code. 
D)  belief that genes are immutable. 
E)  discovery of chromosomal abnormalities.

Question 9

What makes the forebrain unique?

Accepted Answer

It is the part of the brain that is uniq

Question 10

Much of what is known about experience-dependent plasticity is a result of

Accepted Answer

A)  experimental studies with twins. 
B)  experimental studies with adopted children and families. 
C)  correlational studies of children in various home environments. 
D)  brain imaging research in large-scale, controlled-experiments. 
E)  correlational studies exclusively in rats. 
A)  experimental studies with twins. 
B)  experimental studies with adopted children and families. 
C)  correlational studies of children in various home environments. 
D)  brain imaging research in large-scale, controlled-experiments. 
E)  correlational studies exclusively in rats.

Question 11

Electrical impulses travel from the cell body to _______ where neurotransmitters are released to send signals to other neurons.

Accepted Answer

A)  dendrites 
B)  cell wall 
C)  neurons 
D)  axon terminals 
E)  glial cells 
A)  dendrites 
B)  cell wall 
C)  neurons 
D)  axon terminals 
E)  glial cells

Question 12

Six-year-old Maya was involved in a car accident. The doctors mentioned that Maya has some swelling of her occipital lobe. Which of these might be affected with an injury to this part of the brain?

Accepted Answer

A)  Vision 
B)  Attention 
C)  Smell and taste 
D)  Motor control 
E)  Memory 
A)  Vision 
B)  Attention 
C)  Smell and taste 
D)  Motor control 
E)  Memory

Question 13

The brain's volume gradually increases over childhood through the process of

Accepted Answer

A)  germination. 
B)  maturation. 
C)  synaptogenesis. 
D)  migration. 
E)  regeneration. 
A)  germination. 
B)  maturation. 
C)  synaptogenesis. 
D)  migration. 
E)  regeneration.

Question 14

Hubel and Wiesel's experiments with kittens helped to better understand

Accepted Answer

A)  synaptogenesis. 
B)  experience-expectant plasticity. 
C)  experience-dependent plasticity. 
D)  neurogenesis. 
E)  synaptic pruning 
A)  synaptogenesis. 
B)  experience-expectant plasticity. 
C)  experience-dependent plasticity. 
D)  neurogenesis. 
E)  synaptic pruning

Question 15

In 2013, the U.S. government launched the _______ to encourage scientific discovery of new tools and methods to study the brain.

Accepted Answer

A)  BRAIN initiative 
B)  Neurological Society of America 
C)  Brain-Based Project 
D)  Frontiers of Science Foundation 
E)  Brain Balance Study 
A)  BRAIN initiative 
B)  Neurological Society of America 
C)  Brain-Based Project 
D)  Frontiers of Science Foundation 
E)  Brain Balance Study

Question 16

Explain why the popular concept of a person being "left-brained" or "right-brained" is not exactly accurate.

Accepted Answer

While the two hemispheres have particula

Question 17

A(n) _______ has been used to describe the unique components and interactive influence genetic and environmental aspects have on human development.

Accepted Answer

A)  ladder metaphor 
B)  library metaphor 
C)  computer metaphor 
D)  animalistic analogy 
E)  evolutionary analogy 
A)  ladder metaphor 
B)  library metaphor 
C)  computer metaphor 
D)  animalistic analogy 
E)  evolutionary analogy

Question 18

Which is proof that regions of the brain specialized for experience-expectant plasticity are not necessarily locked into their "expected" paths of development?

Accepted Answer

A)  A deaf child's auditory processing areas become specialized for visual processing. 
B)  An older child's hindbrain takes over many of the tasks once attributed to the cerebral cortex. 
C)  Specialized brain stimulation programs mimic auditory stimuli, prompting growth of auditory processing areas. 
D)  A deaf child's cerebral cortex increases in gray matter, compensating for lack of auditory stimuli. 
E)  A young child's cerebral cortex decreases in white matter, compensating for lack of auditory stimuli. 
A)  A deaf child's auditory processing areas become specialized for visual processing. 
B)  An older child's hindbrain takes over many of the tasks once attributed to the cerebral cortex. 
C)  Specialized brain stimulation programs mimic auditory stimuli, prompting growth of auditory processing areas. 
D)  A deaf child's cerebral cortex increases in gray matter, compensating for lack of auditory stimuli. 
E)  A young child's cerebral cortex decreases in white matter, compensating for lack of auditory stimuli.

Question 19

Synaptogenesis begins prenatally and is especially rapid

Accepted Answer

A)  after three years of age. 
B)  after the first year. 
C)  before adolescence. 
D)  before and after birth. 
E)  before a child's third birthday. 
A)  after three years of age. 
B)  after the first year. 
C)  before adolescence. 
D)  before and after birth. 
E)  before a child's third birthday.

Question 20

Which best describes the concept of sensitive periods in relation to brain development?

Accepted Answer

A)  There are times in development when then the brain expects to develop certain skills. 
B)  There are times in development when the brain is most susceptible to experiences. 
C)  The brain is more susceptible to certain experiences than others across development. 
D)  The brain is hard-wired to learn particular skills. 
E)  The brain is no longer thought of as being hard-wired for brain growth. 
A)  There are times in development when then the brain expects to develop certain skills. 
B)  There are times in development when the brain is most susceptible to experiences. 
C)  The brain is more susceptible to certain experiences than others across development. 
D)  The brain is hard-wired to learn particular skills. 
E)  The brain is no longer thought of as being hard-wired for brain growth.

Briefly explain why select groups of people are more likely to develop disorders such as Turner Syndrome.

Describe the relationship between language development and the concept of experience-expectant plasticity.

Which provides the best example of canalization?

Darius and Xavier are identical twins. At age 20, Darius was diagnosed with cancer but recovered with treatment. The two men are now 50 years old and Xavier has never been diagnosed with cancer. What concept might explain this difference?

Which is an accurate description of the hindbrain?

A child is confronted by an unfamiliar barking dog. The child's heart starts to race as he runs away. Which part of the brain helps prepare for this response to a fearful situation?

The death of superfluous neuronal connections is referred to as

James Watson and Francis Crick's description of the exact structure of DNA led to the

What makes the forebrain unique?

Much of what is known about experience-dependent plasticity is a result of

Electrical impulses travel from the cell body to _______ where neurotransmitters are released to send signals to other neurons.

Six-year-old Maya was involved in a car accident. The doctors mentioned that Maya has some swelling of her occipital lobe. Which of these might be affected with an injury to this part of the brain?

The brain's volume gradually increases over childhood through the process of

Hubel and Wiesel's experiments with kittens helped to better understand

In 2013, the U.S. government launched the _______ to encourage scientific discovery of new tools and methods to study the brain.

Explain why the popular concept of a person being "left-brained" or "right-brained" is not exactly accurate.

A(n) _______ has been used to describe the unique components and interactive influence genetic and environmental aspects have on human development.

Which is proof that regions of the brain specialized for experience-expectant plasticity are not necessarily locked into their "expected" paths of development?

Synaptogenesis begins prenatally and is especially rapid

Which best describes the concept of sensitive periods in relation to brain development?

Goals, Theories, and Methods

Prenatal and Postnatal Health and Physical Development

Perceptual and Motor Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

Cognitive Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

Language Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

Emotional and Social Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

Physical Development and Health in Early Childhood

Cognitive and Language Development in Early Childhood

Emotional and Social Development in Early Childhood

Physical Development and Health in Middle Childhood

Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood

Emotional and Social Development in Middle Childhood

Physical Development and Health in Adolescence

Cognitive Development in Adolescence

Emotional and Social Development in Adolescence

Filters

Exam 2: Heredity, Environment, and the Brain

Briefly explain why select groups of people are more likely to develop disorders such as Turner Syndrome.

Describe the relationship between language development and the concept of experience-expectant plasticity.

Which provides the best example of canalization?

Darius and Xavier are identical twins. At age 20, Darius was diagnosed with cancer but recovered with treatment. The two men are now 50 years old and Xavier has never been diagnosed with cancer. What concept might explain this difference?

Which is an accurate description of the hindbrain?

A child is confronted by an unfamiliar barking dog. The child's heart starts to race as he runs away. Which part of the brain helps prepare for this response to a fearful situation?

The death of superfluous neuronal connections is referred to as

James Watson and Francis Crick's description of the exact structure of DNA led to the

What makes the forebrain unique?

Much of what is known about experience-dependent plasticity is a result of

Electrical impulses travel from the cell body to _______ where neurotransmitters are released to send signals to other neurons.

Six-year-old Maya was involved in a car accident. The doctors mentioned that Maya has some swelling of her occipital lobe. Which of these might be affected with an injury to this part of the brain?

The brain's volume gradually increases over childhood through the process of

Hubel and Wiesel's experiments with kittens helped to better understand

In 2013, the U.S. government launched the _______ to encourage scientific discovery of new tools and methods to study the brain.

Explain why the popular concept of a person being "left-brained" or "right-brained" is not exactly accurate.

A(n) _______ has been used to describe the unique components and interactive influence genetic and environmental aspects have on human development.

Which is proof that regions of the brain specialized for experience-expectant plasticity are not necessarily locked into their "expected" paths of development?

Synaptogenesis begins prenatally and is especially rapid

Which best describes the concept of sensitive periods in relation to brain development?

Goals, Theories, and Methods

Prenatal and Postnatal Health and Physical Development

Perceptual and Motor Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

Cognitive Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

Language Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

Emotional and Social Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

Physical Development and Health in Early Childhood

Cognitive and Language Development in Early Childhood

Emotional and Social Development in Early Childhood

Physical Development and Health in Middle Childhood

Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood

Emotional and Social Development in Middle Childhood

Physical Development and Health in Adolescence

Cognitive Development in Adolescence

Emotional and Social Development in Adolescence

Filters