Studies of the Infant Brain Show Signs of What Scientists

question 370

Multiple Choice

Studies of the infant brain show signs of what scientists call synaptic pruning. What occurs during this process?

• A) The brain creates additional neural connections by removing parts of the surrounding bone.
• B) Unused synaptic connections and nerve cells are cleared out to make way for new cells.
• C) New cells work to "rewrite" old cells and ultimately change their functioning.
• D) New cells will not develop until the body makes sufficient physical space within the brain.

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Definitions:

Cold Objects

Items that are at a low temperature, potentially causing a decrease in temperature of anything they come into contact with.

Merkel Disks

Specialized skin cells that function as mechanoreceptors to sense touch and texture.

Pacinian Corpuscles

Specialized nerve endings in the skin and visceral organs sensitive to pressure and vibration.

Meissner Corpuscles

Specialized nerve endings found in the skin that are responsible for sensitivity to light touch.