Final answer:
At three years of age, Christopher's neural connections are still developing rapidly. His brain has not attained its maximum size, cognitive functions are not yet fully developed, and memory capacity has not plateaued. Instead, he's in a period of 'blooming' in brain development that will be followed by 'pruning' as he grows older.
Step-by-step explanation:
Christopher's Brain Development at Three Years of Age
If Christopher is three years of age, the aspect of brain development that holds true for him is that neural connections are still developing rapidly (option b). At this age, the brain grows quickly, especially the frontal lobes, which are associated with functions such as planning, reasoning, memory, and impulse control. However, Christopher's brain has not reached its maximum size yet – by the age of six, it will have reached about 90% of an adult's brain size. Additionally, cognitive functions are not fully matured at this age; they continue to develop and become more sophisticated throughout childhood and into adolescence. Moreover, the capacity for memory continues to broaden, rather than plateauing, as the brain undergoes significant changes like synaptic pruning and myelination, leading to enhanced efficiency and functionality.
Crucially, during early childhood, children like Christopher experience what is known as 'blooming,' a period of swift growth in neural pathways, followed by 'pruning,' a refining process that extends through childhood and adolescence, allowing for the acquisition of more complex cognitive skills. Preschool-age children are also progressing steadily in cognitive development, understanding basic concepts and showing a burgeoning curiosity and the ability to engage in symbolic play and pretend.