GSCE Psychology Module 1 - Development

Which part of the brain is responsible for higher-order thinking, decision making, and voluntary movement?

Forebrain

The midbrain primarily functions in:

Relaying messages between the forebrain and hindbrain

The hindbrain includes all of the following except:

Hippocampus

Which brain structure controls balance and coordination?

Cerebellum

The medulla is responsible for:

Heartbeat, breathing, and automatic survival functions

Neural connections in early brain development are strongest during:

Birth (1-3 years)

How many neural connections does a baby make per second?

700-1000

What phrase correctly represents the timeline of cerebellum development?

Begins at birth, continues developing rapidly in first 2 years

When does the medulla fully develop?

At birth

Synaptic pruning refers to:

Elimination of unused neural connections

The process by which the brain forms and strengthens neural pathways based on experiences is called:

Neuroplasticity

What parts of the brain make up the forebrain?

The brain hemispheres

What parts of the brain make up the midbrain?

Parts of the central nervous system and brain stem

What parts of the brain make up the hindbrain?

The cerebellum and medulla oblongata

What is the cerebellum?

Area of the brain that controls motor movements, sensory processing, coordination and balance

What is the medulla oblongata?

Area of the brain near the brainstem that connects the upper brain to the spinal cord + controls automatic responses (reflexes) such as heartbeat, breathing, sneezing and coughing

Piaget’s theory focuses on:

Cognitive development

What is the first stage of Piaget’s stages of development and the age range?

Sensorimotor stage, from birth to 2 years

What does egocentric mean?

Inability to see the world through another’s viewpoint

What is the second stage of Piaget’s stages of development and the age range?

Pre-operational stage (2-7 years)

What is the third stage of Piaget’s stages of development and the age range?

Concrete operational (7-11 years)

What is the fourth stage of Piaget’s stages of development and the age range?

Formal operational (12+ years)

What brain structure does the forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain develop from?

Neural tube

In what stage of fetal development does the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain develop?

Pre-natal stage

What is the primary function of the midbrain?

Sensory information, sleep and simple movement

What is the primary function of the hindbrain?

Basic human function (eg. heartbeat, blood pressure), coordination, facial expressions

What brain structure(s) develops in the first 18-28 days of pregnancy?

Neural tube, and spinal cord once neural tube closes

When does the brain start to take form?

3-4 weeks into pregnancy, when the brainstem splits into three sections (fore/mid/hind)

What happens to the brain around 5 weeks?

Forebrain and hindbrain split in the middle (anterior/posterior sides) and the cerebellum/medulla starts to form

What does the brain look like during the first trimester?

Brain starting to develop with only the fore and hindbrain present