Which of the following statements is true regarding brain development in humans?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

During early childhood, synaptic connections in the brain increase dramatically, because this period is dominated by synaptogenesis and dendritic branching that create many more connections than are present at birth.

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Neurogenesis (creation of neurons) largely occurs prenatally; by birth most of the neurons are already present (~around 80–100 billion in humans, not 10–20 billion).
- Synaptogenesis is the rapid formation of synapses after birth, especially in the first few years.
- Dendritic branching and increased synaptic density underpin early cognitive and perceptual development.
- Synaptic overproduction is followed by synaptic pruning (selective elimination) across childhood and adolescence.
- Different brain regions have distinct sensitive periods (e.g., rapid frontal lobe growth in early childhood).

2) Step-by-step reasoning
- At birth the brain contains the majority of its neurons, so statement claiming only 10–20 billion neurons is inconsistent with established estimates (~100 billion). That eliminates that option.
- The largest, most dramatic increase in connections happens in early childhood when dendrites branch and form many more synapses; thus the statement that synaptic connections increase dramatically in early childhood is supported.
- While dendritic branching and interconnections continue across the lifespan (plasticity), the statement that this branching and interconnection occur primarily during adulthood is misleading; the most pronounced branching occurs in infancy/early childhood.
- Regarding lobes: from roughly ages 3–6 the frontal lobes (not the parietal lobe) show particularly rapid growth related to planning and executive functions, so the option naming the parietal lobe is incorrect.

3) Intermediate “steps” (evidence points)
- Prenatal neurogenesis → ~100 billion neurons at birth.
- Postnatal synaptogenesis → synaptic density rises steeply in first years, exceeding adult levels.
- Later synaptic pruning refines circuits through childhood/adolescence.

4) Why the correct answer is correct
- The chosen statement precisely describes the well-documented surge of synapse formation in early childhood, which is the hallmark of brain development after birth.

5) Why other options are incorrect
- Option 1: Overstates adulthood as the primary period for dendritic branching; major branching occurs earlier.
- Option 3: Underestimates neonatal neuron count (10–20 billion is too low).
- Option 4: Misattributes the 3–6 rapid growth to the parietal lobe; growth in that age range is most notable in the frontal lobes.

6) Conclusion
The correct answer is: "During early childhood, synaptic connections in the brain increase dramatically." This matches the provided answer.

Which of the following statements is true regarding brain development in humans?单项选择题

类似问题

Based on the results from Shaw, Greenstein, Lerch et al. (2006) in which individuals with superior intelligence had the most changes in cortical thickness from childhood to adolescence, which advice would you give to parents?

What were the effects of institutionalization as evidenced from children raised in over-crowded and under-funded Romanian orphanages?

At around which age do the frontal lobes appear to be fully 'online'?

The cerebral hemispheres arise from which brain region?

Which of the following correctly differentiates between experience-expectant and experience-dependent brain growth?

Executive function has been linked to development of the brain's

Which of the following statements about severe early deprivation and the Romanian Orphan studies is not true?

更多留学生实用工具

智能学习助手

风格化写作助手

论文查重助手

文献引用助手

课堂转译助手

课堂笔记助手

Quiz搜索助手

学校历年真题

智能刷题助手

智能匹配练习

希望你的学习变得更简单