What Is the Evidence That a Newborn Infant Can Detect

question 16

Multiple Choice

What is the evidence that a newborn infant can detect the difference between "ba" and "pa" sounds?

• A) An infant can learn to look one direction after hearing "ba" and a different direction after hearing "pa."
• B) An infant smiles after hearing a "pa" sound but not after hearing a "ba" sound.
• C) An infant learns to suck harder to turn on a "pa" sound, but not to turn on a "ba" sound.
• D) After habituating to a "ba" sound, an infant sucks harder after hearing "pa."

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Definitions:

Neurons

Specialized cells of the nervous system that transmit information to other neurons, muscles, or gland cells.

Temperature

A measure of the thermal energy within a body or environment, typically expressed in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit.

Head-sparing

A phenomenon observed during early infancy in which the body prioritizes nutritional resources for brain development, even under conditions of malnutrition or weight loss.

Malnutrition

A condition that results from eating a diet in which one or more nutrients are either not enough or are too much, leading to health problems.