Lecture 2- The Biology of Developmental Psychology Flashcards
According to Darwin’s theory of natural selection, which of the following is necessary for natural selection to occur?
a) Traits are heritable.
b) Some versions of a trait are fitter than others.
c) The environment is changing.
d) a and b
D
In biology, what does polygenic mean?
a) That there are different versions of a gene.
b) That a gene codes for several proteins.
c) That a trait is influenced by more than one gene.
d) That natural selection must operate on several genes at once
C
Which of the following statements about heritable is FALSE?
a) Heritability can be measured from zero to 100%.
b) For a trait, its heritability plus the effect of the environment adds to 100%.
c) Heritability of many psychological traits is high.
d) For a given population, the heritability of a trait is determined solely by variation in the genes of that population.
D
Which of the following statements about mutations are TRUE?
a) Mutations often reduce the fitness of the individual that carries them.
b) Mutations are changes in DNA.
c) Mutations can lead to a new protein being made.
d) All the above are true
D
What does Johnson’s (2001) maturational account propose?
a) That during development activity becomes focused in the part of the brain best able to facilitate a cognitive function.
b) That during development neural networks mature.
c) That during development frontal activity reduces as skills are perfected.
d) That during development synapse density increases.
A
How many strands of DNA are there in a chromosome?
a) 1.
b) 2.
c) 3.
d) 4.
B
What is the post- natal development?
1) 86,000,000,000 neurones
2) Pattern of connections (synapse), changes during development
0-2= synapse formation
4-6= synaptic pruning
What was Piaget opinion on brain development which increases psychological development?
1) No
2) Pre-natal brain turned off
2) The neonatal brain looks adult-like
3) development involves changes in thinking that are not brand-dependent
State the AO3 of Piaget’s theory for brain development.
Evidence
1) brain is not switched off before birth, but pre-natal effects are limited
2) Post-natal brain develops- changes in synapse density and long-range connectivity change how brain works
What does Johnson (2001) suggest about the post- natal brain?
three ways that development may lead to cognitive development:
1) Maturation accounts
2) Interactive specialisation accounts
3) Skill learning accounts
What is the Maturation account?
That during development activity becomes focused in the part of the brain best able to facilitate a cognitive function.
What is the Interactive Specialisation account?
what develops is the co-ordination of brain networks
What is the Skill Learning account?
1) Need executive functions from the frontal lobes when acquiring a new skill
2) Brain activity becomes less frontal during development (once you have got it)
What does natural selection rely on?
1) differnces between individuals within species (traits)
2) Traits passed on to offspring
3) some traits are ‘fitter’ than others
4) Excess individuals
What does it suggest when all four traits of natural selection are true?
Fit traits must spread between generations, species must become fitter over time
