Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

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

1. Different objects can be explored differently.

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

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

4. Variability among infants makes general conclusions about action difficult.

The correct answer is: Different objects can be explored differently.

As infants develop greater control over their hands, they exhibit the ability to explore different objects in various ways. This increased dexterity allows them to engage in more diverse manipulative actions, such as grasping, shaking, or pressing. Each object can elicit different qualities of exploration based on its texture, size, and shape, facilitating cognitive and sensory development. The capacity to interact with objects in multiple ways reflects the growing sophistication of motor skills, which is crucial for cognitive development and learning about their environment. This exploration is a key factor in how infants understand their world, leading to insights about the properties and functions of different objects they encounter. The other options do not accurately describe the developmental changes that occur as infants gain hand control. While variability among infants may exist, it does not directly relate to the fundamental change observed with improved hand control. Loss of myelination in the prefrontal cortex is not associated with this developmental stage; instead, myelination is generally linked to the enhancement of neural function. Additionally, the suggestion that infants use the same actions on almost all objects contradicts the key change of developing varied exploration strategies.