Developmental Neuropsychology # MCQs Practice set

Q.1 Which part of the brain is primarily involved in early motor development in infants?

Cerebellum
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Thalamus
Explanation - The cerebellum is essential for motor control and coordination, which are critical during early stages of infant development.
Correct answer is: Cerebellum

Q.2 Myelination in the human brain primarily helps in:

Increasing brain size
Speeding up neural communication
Improving memory storage
Producing neurotransmitters
Explanation - Myelination acts as insulation around neurons, allowing faster and more efficient transmission of electrical signals.
Correct answer is: Speeding up neural communication

Q.3 At what age does the prefrontal cortex typically reach full maturity?

Around age 10
Mid-teens
Early twenties
Late twenties
Explanation - The prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, fully matures in the late twenties.
Correct answer is: Late twenties

Q.4 Which developmental disorder is characterized by difficulties in social communication and repetitive behaviors?

ADHD
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Dyslexia
Tourette Syndrome
Explanation - Autism Spectrum Disorder involves challenges with social skills and repetitive or restricted patterns of behavior.
Correct answer is: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Q.5 Synaptic pruning during development refers to:

Formation of new neurons
Strengthening unused connections
Elimination of unnecessary neural connections
Increasing brain size
Explanation - Synaptic pruning removes unused neural connections to make brain processing more efficient.
Correct answer is: Elimination of unnecessary neural connections

Q.6 Which brain region is primarily associated with language development?

Broca's area
Cerebellum
Occipital lobe
Hippocampus
Explanation - Broca's area is crucial for language production and development, especially in early childhood.
Correct answer is: Broca's area

Q.7 During adolescence, which brain region undergoes significant restructuring influencing decision-making?

Temporal lobe
Frontal lobe
Brainstem
Cerebellum
Explanation - The frontal lobe undergoes major changes during adolescence, affecting planning, judgment, and impulse control.
Correct answer is: Frontal lobe

Q.8 Piaget's sensorimotor stage occurs during what age range?

0-2 years
2-6 years
7-11 years
12-18 years
Explanation - The sensorimotor stage occurs from birth to 2 years, when infants learn through sensory experiences and movement.
Correct answer is: 0-2 years

Q.9 Which factor most strongly influences brain plasticity during childhood?

Genetics only
Nutrition only
Experience and environment
None of the above
Explanation - While genetics are important, experience and environmental stimulation play a key role in brain plasticity.
Correct answer is: Experience and environment

Q.10 Which developmental milestone usually appears first in infants?

Walking
Rolling over
Talking
Running
Explanation - Rolling over is one of the earliest motor milestones, typically occurring around 4-6 months of age.
Correct answer is: Rolling over

Q.11 The limbic system is most closely related to which developmental function?

Balance control
Emotional regulation
Visual processing
Fine motor skills
Explanation - The limbic system plays a key role in emotions, memory, and motivation, developing rapidly in childhood and adolescence.
Correct answer is: Emotional regulation

Q.12 Which condition is associated with progressive neurodegeneration in childhood?

Autism
ADHD
Rett syndrome
Down syndrome
Explanation - Rett syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive loss of motor and cognitive skills.
Correct answer is: Rett syndrome

Q.13 The development of object permanence is a hallmark of which cognitive stage?

Sensorimotor
Preoperational
Concrete operational
Formal operational
Explanation - Object permanence develops during the sensorimotor stage, indicating that the child understands objects exist even when out of sight.
Correct answer is: Sensorimotor

Q.14 Excessive stress in early childhood can negatively impact which part of the brain?

Hippocampus
Occipital lobe
Cerebellum
Brainstem
Explanation - The hippocampus, involved in memory and learning, is highly sensitive to stress hormones during early development.
Correct answer is: Hippocampus

Q.15 The corpus callosum is responsible for:

Controlling balance
Connecting the two brain hemispheres
Producing neurotransmitters
Regulating breathing
Explanation - The corpus callosum enables communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
Correct answer is: Connecting the two brain hemispheres

Q.16 Which factor is MOST critical during the first three years of life for optimal brain development?

Sleep
Stimulation and interaction
Formal education
Competitive activities
Explanation - Early stimulation and caregiver interaction are vital for forming neural connections and supporting healthy brain growth.
Correct answer is: Stimulation and interaction

Q.17 Dyslexia primarily affects which cognitive skill?

Memory
Reading and language processing
Motor coordination
Emotional regulation
Explanation - Dyslexia impacts the brain's ability to process written language, affecting reading and spelling skills.
Correct answer is: Reading and language processing

Q.18 At what age do children typically begin to demonstrate theory of mind?

Around age 2
Around age 4
Around age 6
Around age 10
Explanation - Theory of mind, the understanding that others have different thoughts and perspectives, typically develops around age 4.
Correct answer is: Around age 4

Q.19 Which neurotransmitter is most involved in attention regulation and is often related to ADHD?

Serotonin
Dopamine
GABA
Acetylcholine
Explanation - Dopamine plays a key role in attention and motivation. Dysregulation of dopamine pathways is associated with ADHD.
Correct answer is: Dopamine

Q.20 During adolescence, increased activity in the limbic system compared to the prefrontal cortex can lead to:

Greater impulse control
Risk-taking behaviors
Improved memory
Decreased emotional response
Explanation - The imbalance between a highly active limbic system and a still-developing prefrontal cortex contributes to impulsive, risky behaviors in teens.
Correct answer is: Risk-taking behaviors

Q.21 Neuroplasticity is most prominent during which life stage?

Infancy and childhood
Adolescence
Early adulthood
Late adulthood
Explanation - The brain is highly plastic and adaptable during early life, allowing rapid learning and development.
Correct answer is: Infancy and childhood

Q.22 Which structure is crucial for forming new memories during childhood?

Amygdala
Hippocampus
Hypothalamus
Cerebellum
Explanation - The hippocampus is essential for memory formation and plays a major role in learning during childhood.
Correct answer is: Hippocampus

Q.23 The 'critical period' in brain development refers to:

A time when neurons are destroyed
A phase of maximum learning potential
A stage when the brain stops growing
An age when synapses are completely formed
Explanation - Critical periods are windows of time when the brain is especially sensitive to learning specific skills like language.
Correct answer is: A phase of maximum learning potential

Q.24 Which developmental disorder is characterized by difficulties in attention and hyperactivity?

ADHD
Autism
Dysgraphia
Aphasia
Explanation - ADHD involves problems with attention regulation, hyperactivity, and impulsive behaviors.
Correct answer is: ADHD

Q.25 The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for:

Language processing
Emotional control
Visual processing
Motor coordination
Explanation - The occipital lobe processes visual information, which is crucial in early development as vision matures.
Correct answer is: Visual processing