Question

A study presented in your textbook showed that infants could learn the association between their kicking movements and the movement of a mobile attached to their foot with a string. This study suggested that infants could retain that association over weeks or months, depending on their age, and that long-term memory strengthens with age. Information processing theory might suggest that:

Select one:

a.Children move through discrete developmental stages, and which stage they are in dictates how long they can retain associations in memory

b.Neural maturation may be one factor that explains how infants are able to retain associations over longer and longer periods of time

c.Because memory development is so critical to humans, infants have an innate specialized learning mechanism to support contingent learning

d.All of the above

Answer 1

Information processing theory suggests that neural maturation is one factor explaining how infants retain memory associations over time, with developmental stages such as the sensorimotor stage influencing memory retention abilities. Option b is most aligned with this theory.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question relates to information processing theory and its explanation for how infants can retain memory associations over time. Based on the provided study, which shows that infants can learn and retain the association between their kicking and the movement of a mobile, information processing theory might suggest several reasons for this ability:

• Neural maturation could be a factor that explains how infants retain associations for longer periods as they age (memory development).
• There might be an innate learning mechanism that supports this type of contingent learning.
• Developmental stages, particularly the sensorimotor stage, influence memory retention abilities.

In the context of the multiple-choice options provided, b. Neural maturation may be one factor that explains how infants are able to retain associations over longer and longer periods of time seems most aligned with the information processing theory's view on cognitive development stages and neural maturation.

Answer 2

According to information processing theory, neural maturation may be one factor that explains how infants can retain associations over longer periods of time (b).

Step-by-step explanation:

• According to information processing theory, the suggested explanation for infants' ability to retain associations over longer periods of time is that neural maturation may be one factor that contributes to this ability.
• As infants grow and their brains develop, their memory capacity and efficiency increases, allowing them to retain associations for longer durations. This suggests that long-term memory strengthens with age.

• The study presented in the textbook, which showed that infants can learn associations between kicking movements and the movement of a mobile, supports the idea that memory development in infants is influenced by neural maturation and the gradual strengthening of long-term memory.