cognitive development in adolescence

Question 1

give 2 examples of high level intellectual functions

Answer 1

logical reasoning, problem solving

Question 2

give examples of basic level intellectual functions

Answer 2

attention, perception, memory

Question 3

what are the 3 inter-related aspects of adolescent thinking?

Answer 3

process, structure, content

Question 4

a cognitive ability that develops very early in life and we observe a change in flexibility throughout development =

Answer 4

perception

Question 5

when looking at perception what did studies use?

Answer 5

perception of ambiguous figures (figures that can be perceived in 2 or more ways)

Question 6

in the study looking at perception of ambiguous figures in 4-11 year olds what were the findings?

Answer 6

younger children report seeing only 1 figure, only when an adult points our the distinction between 2 figures can a younger child see, older children can perceive the figure more flexibly

Question 7

ability to allocate attentional resources and to focus on a specific topic =

Answer 7

selective attention

Question 8

studies have shown that adolescents have ______ selective attention abilities

Answer 8

better

Question 9

adolescents are ______ likely than younger children to remember more items from the central task than the incidental task which shows they are better at selective attention

Answer 9

more

Question 10

time it takes the brain to either receive or output info (speed that mental calculations can be carried out) =

Answer 10

speed of processing

Question 11

what is the trajectory in adolescent development of the speed of processing?

Answer 11

develops rapidly during childhood > continues to develop into adolescence (older A’s faster compared to younger)

Question 12

what is the cause of increased speed of processing in adolescents?

Answer 12

maturation of white matter in the brain

Question 13

what measures were used to test visuospatial reasoning ability?

Answer 13

matrix reasoning, block design, analysis synthesis, concept formation

Question 14

this test measures how rapidly and accurately a ppt can identify within an array of stimuli, a subset of shapes that match a sample stimulus =

Answer 14

Cross Out subtest (Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement)

Question 15

test that measures the ability to select a geometric stimulus that accurately completes an array of stimuli arranged due to progression rules = what measure?

Answer 15

matrix reasoning

Question 16

test that measures the ability to arrange a set of red and white blocks to produce a 2D visual pattern =

Answer 16

block design

Question 17

test where ppts must analyse the structure of an incomplete logic puzzle and solve missing parts =

Answer 17

analysis synthesis

Question 18

test where ppts must identify rules that make up geometric figures after being exposed to concepts =

Answer 18

concept formation

Question 19

white matter maturation was found in a study to support improved processing speed. What does this support?

Answer 19

improved (visuospatial) reasoning ability

Question 20

what theory suggests that younger children rely on info about individual features of the face whereas adolescents use info about the configuration of facial features?

Answer 20

encoding switch hypothesis

Question 21

with face processing, what is represented in memory in children at different ages?

Answer 21

information about faces

Question 22

children below 10 rely on ________ processing when identifying faces

Answer 22

featural

Question 23

older children/adults rely on _______ processing when identifying faces

Answer 23

configure

Question 24

there is evidence that below 10, children make identifications based on what?

Answer 24

paraphernalia (hats, sunglasses)

Question 25

what 2 type of tasks are used to investigate STM?

Answer 25

span tasks, spatial span tasks

Question 26

series of letters/digits/words presented at 1/sec rate and have to repeat them in same order = what type of task?

Answer 26

span

Question 27

certain blocks presented in arrangement > experimenter taps blocks in an order and ppt has to repeat the sequence = what type of task?

Answer 27

spatial span task

Question 28

how can working memory be tested?

Answer 28

modified version of span tasks, letter span task

Question 29

ppts are presented with a series of items and asked to reproduce them in reverse order. what type of memory is this testing?

Answer 29

working memory

Question 30

list of random letters are presented and ppts have to repeat them in alphabetical order. what type of memory is this testing?

Answer 30

working memory

Question 31

what do working memory tasks show with performance in adolescents?

Answer 31

better performance and older adolescents show better WM compared to younger adolescents

Question 32

with this type of memory, the absolute capacity doesn't change with age but the strategies on how we form these memories do. what is it?

Answer 32

long term memory

Question 33

what type of memory strategy do younger children use?

Answer 33

rehearsal strategy (repeating over and over)

Question 34

what type of memory strategy might older children use?

Answer 34

elaboration strategy

Question 35

both rehearsal and elaboration help memory, but which is more effective?

Answer 35

elaboration

Question 36

give another type of elaborations strategy that is seen in older children

Answer 36

organisation strategy

Question 37

ability to organise cluster of items into memory =

Answer 37

cluster effect

Question 38

forming memories relies on?

Answer 38

brain plasticity

Question 39

we can differentiate between experience-_______ and experience-________ plasticity

Answer 39

dependent, expectant

Question 40

experience dependent =

Answer 40

brains retain an ability to learn

Question 41

experience expectant =

Answer 41

during sensitive periods (infancy/adolescence) our brain will encounter a rush of stimuli where the brain is primed for the experience

Question 42

memory tests in different cultures show what?

Answer 42

a 'reminiscence bump'

Question 43

at what age are we more likely to remember autobiographical events that accord between 10--30?

Answer 43

age 35

Question 44

when are memories of music, books, films, public events strongest?

Answer 44

during adolescence

Question 45

when may simple aspects of WM reach maturity?

Answer 45

childhood

Question 46

measures the ppts ability to conduct and organise search of locations to obtain hidden tokens at each one =

Answer 46

spatial self-ordered search

Question 47

task that requires strategic self monitoring and organisation of behaviour and ongoing demand for info updating as each trial progresses =

Answer 47

spatial memory span task (blocks)

Question 48

what task places heavy demand on executive control?

Answer 48

spatial memory span task