What Is Meant by the "Blooming and Pruning" Analogy of Brain

question 40

Multiple Choice

What is meant by the "blooming and pruning" analogy of brain development?

• A) The brain produces many more dendrite and synapse connections than it uses (blooming). Unused connections disappear or are replaced (pruning).
• B) Early brain function is not specialized by location (blooming). Lateralization (pruning) occurs around 2 years of age.
• C) Myelination produces the brain's bumpy surface (blooming). Brain activity and learning smoothes this surface (pruning).
• D) Areas of the brain mature gradually and uniformly during the first half of life (blooming) and decline in the same manner during the second half of life (pruning).

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Definitions:

Maximum

The highest attainable level or value in a given set of data or a particular function.

Monopolistic Competition

A market structure characterized by many sellers offering differentiated products, with some control over pricing but in a competitive environment.

Price-Making Ability

The capacity of a firm or entity to influence the price of goods or services in the market rather than accepting the market price as given.

Marginal Cost

The outlay required to produce an additional unit of a product or service.