BBH 315 exam 2 Questions With Complete Solutions

Adolescence correct answer: -gradual period of transition from childhood to adulthood -"soft" events rather than discrete events -difficult to characterize precise onset & offset Puberty correct answer: -attainment of sexual maturation -one of many adolescent transitions -onset of biological changes associated with adolescence in humans often signals onset of adolescence, although timing varies among human adolescents critical period correct answer: -someone's development in which a particular skill or characteristic is believed to be most readily acquired sensitive period correct answer: -a time or stage in a person's development when they are more responsive to certain stimuli and quicker to learn particular skills plasticity correct answer: -changes in neural connections during development as a result of environmental interactions as well as neural changes induced by learning changes in prefrontal cortex prior to puberty correct answer: -grows just before puberty -as prefrontal matures, people reason better, develop more impulse control, and make more informed decisions -a pre-pubescent child's brain overproduces synapses, similar to occurrence seen in babies -the brain overproduces and then begins to cut back in order to strengthen brain and consolidate learning what does prefrontal control/modulate and which part matures first correct answer: -controls: planning, working memory, and organization -modulates: mood -parts of the sensory processing mature first and impulse control & planning develop last "pruning" related to synapses -- whats pruned, how, why correct answer: -brain overproduces synapses during pre-puberty and then cuts back (prunes) them in order to strengthen the brain and consolidate learning brain differences in adolescents & adults in sensation-seeking and risk taking correct answer: -higher levels of reward & sensation seeking, peer interactions, and risk taking, due to hyperactive limbic systems -less sensitivity to unpleasant stimuli and different responses to cues and contexts associated with stimuli -greater emotional volatility -behavior shaped by genes, experiences, environmental factors AND brain changes when do brains fully mature correct answer: -in general, grow to maturity by early 20's key ability changes in adolescence, children develop ability to: correct answer: -understand abstract ideas and develop sense of morality -establish/maintain relationships by learning to share intimacy without worry or inhibition -move toward more mature sense of self -question old values without losing identity -use speech to express one's self -development of children 12-18 include predictable physical & mental changes as well physical changes in boys correct answer: -testicles/scrotum