Question

#1 True or False: Body Growth and Brain Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood (pp. 162–174) Directions: Read each of the following statements and indicate whether each is True (T) or False (F). _____ 1. In the second year, most toddlers steadily gain weight, a trend that continues into middle childhood. _____ 2. When skeletal ages are examined, Caucasian children tend to be slightly ahead of African-American children at all ages. _____ 3. In all, about 40 percent of synapses are pruned during childhood and adolescence to reach the adult level. _____ 4. PET and fMRI are especially well-suited for measuring brain functioning in infants and young children. _____ 5. The cerebral cortex is the last brain structure to stop growing. _____ 6. The cerebral cortex has two hemispheres that are very similar in their functions. _____ 7. The brain is more plastic during the first few years than at any later time of life. _____ 8. Exposing babies to under stimulating institutional care for 6 months to 2 years permanently undermines all aspects of psychological development. _____ 9. Providing infants and toddlers with a free curriculum of reading, math, science, art, music, and gym helps yield "super babies." _____ 10. The changing arousal patterns during the first few years of life are affected by brain development and the social environment.

Answer 1

The statements on toddlers' weight gain and synaptic pruning are true. Statements on functions of cerebral cortex's hemispheres and the high plasticity of the brain during early years are also true. Skeletal ages, effects of institutional care, and the impact of a rich curricular environment on creating 'super babies' cannot be generalized without considering various factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that toddlers steadily gain weight in the second year which continues into middle childhood is true. However, the rate of weight gain is much slower than during the first year of life. Regarding skeletal age differences, it would not be accurate to generalize the development of skeletal maturity based on race without providing specific and reliable sources, as it can vary widely due to a range of factors.

The claim that about 40 percent of synapses are pruned during childhood and adolescence is true; this synaptic pruning helps make the brain more efficient and capable of mastering complex skills. PET and fMRI can be used to measure brain functioning; they are considered noninvasive and safe although sedation may be required for young children which carries its own risks. The statement that the cerebral cortex stops growing last is true, with significant development occurring in early childhood that's important for cognitive skills.

The cerebral cortex's hemispheres have specializations, thus they are not identical in function. Brain plasticity is indeed at a high during early life, making this a crucial period for development and recovery from injury. Institutional care, if under stimulating, can have negative effects; however, the extent to which it permanently undermines psychological development can depend on various factors, including the duration of care and the quality of post-institutional environments.

As for creating 'super babies' through a rich curricular environment, while early education is beneficial, it is not accurate to claim that it guarantees the development of 'super babies.' Each child's potential is influenced by a combination of genetics, environment, and education. Arousal patterns during early life are indeed influenced by brain development and the social environment, which adjust as children mature.

Answer 2

Since there are so many true and false questions, the answers and their short explanation, are as follows:

1. False. Children tend to gain weight from birth till they reach the 2-year line and from then on, into middle childhood, they tend to trim down.

2. False. The reverse is true. When skeletal age is used to measure body development, epsecially bone growth, it is African American children that have a slight advantage over their Caucasian counterparts.

3. True. Between childhood and adolescence, the body prunes about 40% of the synapses that have been formed by the brain, as they will not be necessary later in development. This helps to prepare the brain for what it will become later in life.

4. False. Young children, and especially infants, need to move, and are anxious in small spaces. both of these diagnostic procedures require the child to be static, and that is not possible. This is why EEG is a more common procedure to be used; it allows children to be sitting with their parents and to move.

5. True. The cerebral cortex continues growing from childhood into adolescence, and it develops more rapidly than any other region of the brain as it is the one that is most stimulated during those years.

6. False. The cerebral cortex has two hemispheres but each one specializes on certain activities. This does not mean that both do not colaborate in all tasks, but each has specialized tasks to perform.

7. True. Plasticity is a characteristic of the young brain. However, even during childhood, if injury occurs, this does not mean there will not be consequences. It just means that the brain is able to cope with the deficiency and establish mechanisms of compensation that the adult brain cannot do.

8. True. The period between 6 months and 2 years is especially active in development of social, physical and emotional skills. So understimulation and the lack of proper resources and support systems does cause problems in development.

9. False. This is basically a myth. Overstimulation of the child´s brain will not ensure they are more proficient or better, and much less that they become superbabies.

10. True. The more social contact a baby has, paired with genetics of course, the more stimulated the brain becomes and the more development is benefited. And the more developed a baby´s brain is, the further interaction he/she will have with his/her environment, to increase development.