Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

As infants gain more control over their hands, what behavior is observed?

1. They use the same actions on almost all objects.

2. Variability among infants makes general conclusions difficult.

3. They can explore different objects differently.

4. They experience loss of myelination in the prefrontal cortex.

The correct answer is: They can explore different objects differently.

The correct answer highlights a crucial aspect of infant development: as infants gain more control over their hands, they begin to explore different objects in various ways. This increased motor control allows them to not only grasp and manipulate objects but also to use their senses to engage with the environment in a more nuanced manner. For instance, infants might tap, shake, or roll different toys, demonstrating an understanding that different objects have unique properties. This behavior reflects cognitive and motor development, where infants learn through exploration and experimentation. As they engage with a variety of textures, weights, and shapes, they develop their cognitive abilities alongside their physical skills. Other choices do not accurately reflect the behavior of infants as they develop these motor skills. For example, using the same actions on almost all objects does not capture the varied exploration they engage in. Additionally, while variability among infants does exist, it does not directly speak to the observed behavior tied to developing motor control. Lastly, loss of myelination in the prefrontal cortex is not relevant to infant exploration, as myelination typically promotes efficiency in neural processing rather than causing a loss that would impact exploratory behavior.