AHA PALS EXAM/ KNOWLEDGE TEST EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS – LATEST UPDATE 2024 – RATED A+
How long does the first sensitive period occur for/when is the brain most plastic?
✓ First 1000 days
What is epigenetics?
✓ Environmental influences on expression of children's genes
What is an epigenome?
✓ Chemical mark that determines how much or little of the genes are expressed
What is neuroplasticity?
✓ The brain's ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.
What is an example of neuroplasticity with a stroke?
✓ Isn't permanent, can be relearned
When is neuroplasticity more sensitive?
✓ In the younger years
What is positive neuroplasticity?
✓ Increase neuron connections ie learn something new
What is negative neuroplasticity?
✓ Losing neuron connections, or becoming addicted etc
pg. 1
,What is developmental plasticity?
✓ Adapting to different social and physiological environments
What are critical periods?
✓ Brief periods in which an organ or system matures
What are sensitive periods?
✓ Time windows when effect of experiences on brain development is profound, strongly shapes
neural circuits
What part of the brain is important in decision making, planning, behaviour, social interactions and self
awareness?
✓ Prefrontal cortex
What is prefrontal cortex pruning?
✓ Removing unused neural pathways and strengthening used ones during puberty
What are gross motor skills?
✓ Building blocks of movement; locomotion, object manipulation, running etc
What happens during preschool years?
✓ Rapid physical growth, growing sensory motor skills
When does vision rapidly develop, and what is a baby's primary vision interest?
✓ 6 months, human faces
What helps a baby who is sensitive to visual input?
✓ Stimulation (can't process)
pg. 2
, What happens at the 1-2 month mark in terms of vision?
✓ Eyes work together, focus both, eye contact, follow object
What happens at the 3-4 month mark in terms of vision?
✓ Can differentiate between similar shades of colours but prefer bright
What do baby's prefer to hear?
✓ Human voice (particularly mother, native tongue)
When can babies distinguish similar sounds by (pah, bah)?
✓ 1 month
When do babies begin to hear language?
✓ 5 months
What are some 4-month milestones of a baby's hearing progression?
✓ Startle at loud noise, settle at mother's voice, make ooh aah, squeal, coo, laugh noises
What are some 7-month milestones of a baby's hearing progression?
✓ Turn towards sound/name, smile at voice, enjoy noise, babble (mama, gaga)
What are some 9-month milestones of a baby's hearing progression?
✓ Look around when called from behind, understand common words (no, bye), imitate speech
sounds
What are some 12-month milestones of a baby's hearing progression?
✓ Turn head in any direction towards sound, repeat sounds, single words, simple instructions
(point)?
pg. 3
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS – LATEST UPDATE 2024 – RATED A+
How long does the first sensitive period occur for/when is the brain most plastic?
✓ First 1000 days
What is epigenetics?
✓ Environmental influences on expression of children's genes
What is an epigenome?
✓ Chemical mark that determines how much or little of the genes are expressed
What is neuroplasticity?
✓ The brain's ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.
What is an example of neuroplasticity with a stroke?
✓ Isn't permanent, can be relearned
When is neuroplasticity more sensitive?
✓ In the younger years
What is positive neuroplasticity?
✓ Increase neuron connections ie learn something new
What is negative neuroplasticity?
✓ Losing neuron connections, or becoming addicted etc
pg. 1
,What is developmental plasticity?
✓ Adapting to different social and physiological environments
What are critical periods?
✓ Brief periods in which an organ or system matures
What are sensitive periods?
✓ Time windows when effect of experiences on brain development is profound, strongly shapes
neural circuits
What part of the brain is important in decision making, planning, behaviour, social interactions and self
awareness?
✓ Prefrontal cortex
What is prefrontal cortex pruning?
✓ Removing unused neural pathways and strengthening used ones during puberty
What are gross motor skills?
✓ Building blocks of movement; locomotion, object manipulation, running etc
What happens during preschool years?
✓ Rapid physical growth, growing sensory motor skills
When does vision rapidly develop, and what is a baby's primary vision interest?
✓ 6 months, human faces
What helps a baby who is sensitive to visual input?
✓ Stimulation (can't process)
pg. 2
, What happens at the 1-2 month mark in terms of vision?
✓ Eyes work together, focus both, eye contact, follow object
What happens at the 3-4 month mark in terms of vision?
✓ Can differentiate between similar shades of colours but prefer bright
What do baby's prefer to hear?
✓ Human voice (particularly mother, native tongue)
When can babies distinguish similar sounds by (pah, bah)?
✓ 1 month
When do babies begin to hear language?
✓ 5 months
What are some 4-month milestones of a baby's hearing progression?
✓ Startle at loud noise, settle at mother's voice, make ooh aah, squeal, coo, laugh noises
What are some 7-month milestones of a baby's hearing progression?
✓ Turn towards sound/name, smile at voice, enjoy noise, babble (mama, gaga)
What are some 9-month milestones of a baby's hearing progression?
✓ Look around when called from behind, understand common words (no, bye), imitate speech
sounds
What are some 12-month milestones of a baby's hearing progression?
✓ Turn head in any direction towards sound, repeat sounds, single words, simple instructions
(point)?
pg. 3
