Which of the following best explains why memory span increases as children age?

• A. Children's memory span decreases because they become more easily distracted as they grow older.
• B. Children's memory span increases only because they are exposed to more information, not due to cognitive development.
• C. Children's working memory capacity expands due to neurological maturation and improved cognitive strategies.
• D. Memory span remains constant throughout childhood and does not change with age.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of memory span, which refers to the number of items a person can hold and recall in their working memory at one time.
2. Recognize that as children age, their brain undergoes neurological maturation, particularly in areas related to working memory such as the prefrontal cortex.
3. Consider that cognitive strategies, like rehearsal and chunking, improve with age, helping children to better encode and retrieve information.
4. Evaluate the options by linking the increase in memory span to both biological development (neurological maturation) and cognitive improvements (strategies), rather than external factors like exposure to information alone or distraction.
5. Conclude that the best explanation is that children's working memory capacity expands due to neurological maturation and improved cognitive strategies, which aligns with developmental psychology research.