Darryl and Darlene have a 3-year-old daughter, and they are curious about her brain development in early childhood. Describe to them the major brain developments that happen in early childhood.
What will be an ideal response?
The ideal answer should include:
1. Synaptic density reaches a peak at 2 to 3 years of age in language areas of the brain, and around age 3½ in prefrontal areas. Children have up to 50 percent more synapses than adults in these areas of the brain at this time.
2. Complexity and efficiency of neural networks improve due to growth of dendrites and white matter pathways.
3. Gray matter and white matter volume grow slowly and steadily after age 2.
4. The brains of preschoolers use more glucose than that of adults.
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Which aspect of culture tends to decrease rates of conformity?
a) sex-role stereotypes b) low socioeconomic status c) high levels of individualism d) high levels of societal dependence
The case of V.P. is particularly interesting to cognitive psychologists because:
A) he was able to employ a mnemonic based strictly on imagery B) his abilities diminished significantly after the age of 40 C) he was later hit in the head with a cleaver and lost his abilities D) he was able to recall a street map of Los Angeles E) he was systematically examined by a team of contemporary cognitive psychologists