Deck 2: The Neural Basis for Cognition

Question 1

Mike has damage to his hindbrain.He is likely to experience problems with which of the following?

A)rhythm of breathing,level of alertness,and posture
B)complex thought and long-term memory
C)planned motor activity
D)perception and visual imagery

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following is included in the limbic system?

A)thalamus
B)amygdala
C)cerebellum
D)hypothalamus

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Research has suggested that,among its other functions,the amygdala serve as a(n)

A)important relay station between the eye and occipital cortex.
B)storage location for information received from the skin.
C)"emotional evaluator" or threat detector.
D)"index" for locating memories in the brain.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Capgras syndrome provides an illustration of several important themes in Chapter 2.All of the following are true of Capgras EXCEPT

A)damage to a specific part of the brain is likely to produce specific symptoms.
B)the brain has many interconnected and interacting systems.
C)cognitive disorders often co-occur,such as Alzheimer's syndrome and Capgras syndrome.
D)damage to the amygdala will result in an inability to recognize impostors.

Question 5

For most people,encountering a family member who looks a little bit different may elicit a response like "He must have gotten a haircut!" However,that same experience will elicit a response like ________ from someone with Capgras syndrome.

A)"He lost weight!"
B)"He is mad at me."
C)"He is an impostor!"
D)"He looks like a hat!"

Question 6

Commissures are

A)blood vessels that carry blood to all areas of the brain.
B)brain areas associated with various types of sensory information.
C)pockets of oxygen found throughout the brain.
D)thick bundles of fibers that allow communication between the brain's hemispheres.

Question 7

Damage to the brain can be caused in many ways,but in general the damage is referred to as a

A)stroke.
B)lesion.
C)syndrome.
D)problem.

Question 8

Which of the following structures is NOT visible when viewing an image of an intact brain?

A)occipital lobe
B)cortex
C)primary motor cortex
D)amygdala

Question 9

Capgras syndrome and other cognitive disorders are useful to consider because they

A)provide information about normal cognitive functioning.
B)highlight the importance of proper nutrition and health care.
C)provide evidence that people with Capgras syndrome need medication.
D)show that all brain damage is irreversible.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is LEAST likely to be true of a person with Capgras syndrome?

A)She thinks that her mother has been replaced by a look-alike alien.
B)She cannot recognize that her father looks like her father.
C)She also has Alzheimer's syndrome.
D)She has no warm sense of familiarity when she sees a close friend.

Question 11

The cerebral cortex makes up the surface of what brain structure?

A)hindbrain
B)midbrain
C)thalamus
D)forebrain

Question 12

Most of the brain's structures are hidden deep underneath the ________,which is the outer,visible layer.

A)cerebellum
B)cortex
C)midbrain
D)hindbrain

Question 13

Damage to the ________ is likely to cause problems with precise eye movements.

A)forebrain
B)midbrain
C)hindbrain
D)amygdala

Question 14

Capgras syndrome suggests there are two parts to recognition.These parts are

A)factual and auditory.
B)factual and emotional.
C)visual and factual.
D)visual and auditory.

Question 15

Which lobe or cortex is closest to someone's forehead?

A)frontal
B)parietal
C)occipital
D)temporal

Question 16

Neuroimaging techniques such as PET suggest a link between Capgras syndrome and abnormalities in each of the following brain regions EXCEPT the

A)prefrontal cortex.
B)amygdala.
C)temporal lobe.
D)fusiform face area.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about Phineas Gage is FALSE?

A)He had Capgras syndrome.
B)A rod went through his face and head,removing part of his frontal lobe.
C)His personality changed after his trauma.
D)He was able to perform basic cognitive tasks (talking,remembering,etc. )after his trauma.

Question 18

Lisa has recently suffered a brain injury.Her symptoms include deficits in coordination and interpretation of pain.Which structure is most likely damaged?

A)primary motor area
B)midbrain
C)forebrain
D)hindbrain

Question 19

Some researchers explain Capgras syndrome as

A)a failure of visual recognition.
B)the result of a disconnection between cognitive appraisal and sense of familiarity.
C)a subtype of schizophrenia.
D)a failure of long-term memory,because patients cannot remember what close family members look like.

Question 20

Capgras syndrome teaches us many things,but is LEAST informative about which of the following?

A)the function of the temporal lobe in memory
B)the function of the amygdala in people without Capgras syndrome
C)the function of the frontal lobe in schizophrenia
D)the function of visual area V1

Question 21

A CT or computerized axial tomography scan

A)can only be performed on a cadaver.
B)uses X-rays to study the living brain's anatomy.
C)is primarily useful for measuring blood flow in the brain.
D)can detect the activity taking place in different brain areas in real time.

Question 22

We know that the amygdala is especially activated when someone is looking at an emotional scene.This result on its own does not allow us to make ________ statements.

A)causal
B)important
C)scientific
D)functional

Question 23

Positron emission tomography (PET)scans show

A)continuous details of brain anatomy.
B)what a participant is thinking the moment the scan is taken.
C)brain areas that are currently consuming a particularly high level of glucose.
D)whether a participant is learning something new or remembering prior learning.

Question 24

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)uses a strong magnetic pulse to

A)record the amount of glucose a specific brain region used during a cognitive task.
B)measure the blood flow using blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD)signals.
C)produce a temporary disruption to the brain area,and thus brain function,where it is applied.
D)create a detailed "map" of the different brain areas.

Question 25

Lindsie participated in an fMRI experiment.The researchers found high activity levels in visual areas when she was looking at a photograph and similar activity in many of those same areas when she was

A)sleeping.
B)imagining the scene shown in the photograph.
C)drawing the scene shown in the photograph.
D)speaking.

Question 26

The primary motor projection area is located

A)in the cerebellum.
B)in the occipital cortex.
C)toward the rear of the frontal lobe.
D)in the midbrain.

Question 27

Dr.Hout has fMRI evidence that the FFA is especially activated when people are engaged in a face recognition task.As a plausible next research step,she might think about

A)combining this result with other evidence before trying to make any cause-and-effect claims.
B)confirming the result by measuring activation levels with MRI or a CT scan.
C)confirming the exact location of the activation through EEG recording.
D)combining this result with other evidence examining FFA activation levels when someone is listening to music.

Question 28

A patient might elect to have split-brain surgery,which involves

A)severing the corpus callosum.
B)removing the amygdala.
C)removing one hemisphere of the brain.
D)removing a section of the frontal lobe.

Question 29

Researchers have used fMRI to investigate activation in the FFA and the parahippocampal place area (PPA).When participants are shown a picture of a face to one eye and a picture of a house to the other eye (producing binocular rivalry),we expect to see

A)no increase in activation in either the FFA or the PPA relative to a baseline level of activation.
B)equal activation in the FFA and the PPA.
C)activation only in the brain region linked to the picture in the dominant eye (e.g. ,if a picture of a face is presented to the dominant eye,then only the FFA will show increased activation).
D)an increase in activation in the FFA when the participant is consciously aware of the face and similarly increased activation in the PPA when the participant is consciously aware of the house.

Question 30

Researchers using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)find activity in the fusiform face area (FFA)when participants view faces.This result on its own tells us that the FFA

A)is responsible for recognizing faces.
B)is necessary to recognize faces.
C)is activity correlated with recognizing faces.
D)has no role in recognizing faces.

Question 31

Patients who have epilepsy often experience a decreased seizure frequency after a split-brain procedure.But these patients have also provided evidence for scientists.Specifically,

A)this procedure has led to the well-supported notion that someone can be "left-brained" or "right-brained."
B)research with these patients suggests that there is not significant localization of function in the brain.
C)research with these patients suggests that someone cannot live without an intact corpus callosum,indicating its importance in survival and functioning.
D)research with these patients has provided evidence for some degree of localization of function of the right and left hemispheres.

Question 32

When a photograph is shown in the right visual field,the signal will be sent to the ________ hemisphere.

A)right
B)left
C)visual
D)cortical

Question 33

Kareena has undergone a split-brain procedure.Her doctor briefly presents the word "hammer" to only her left visual field and then asks her what she saw.Which set of responses is Kareena most likely to give?

A)She will say she doesn't know what word appeared,but she will be able to draw a picture of the object with her right hand.
B)She will say she doesn't know what word appeared,but she will be able to draw a picture of the object with her left hand.
C)She will say she doesn't know what word appeared,and she will not be able to identify the object using either hand.
D)She will say "hammer."

Question 34

Doctors suspect that Paolo has a tumor in his brain,and they hope to learn the exact position
Of the tumor.For this purpose,they are likely to rely on

A)TMS.
B)fMRI.
C)EEG.
D)MRI.

Question 35

The electroencephalogram (EEG)provides an estimate of brain activity by measuring

A)glucose consumption.
B)blood flow.
C)neurotransmitter release.
D)electrical signals recorded at the surface of the scalp.

Question 36

Which of the following statements about the association cortex is FALSE?

A)These areas of the brain are involved in higher-level sensory processing.
B)These areas contain specialized subregions.
C)There are association areas for both sensory and motor areas.
D)The visual association cortex is located in the subcortical parts of the brain.

Question 37

A number of techniques have been developed that allow us to examine the activation of specifically defined brain areas.These techniques are called

A)fMRI.
B)neuroimaging techniques.
C)chronometric techniques.
D)psychometric assessment.

Question 38

The corpus callosum is a large

A)muscle.
B)neuron.
C)commissure.
D)damaged area of the brain.

Question 39

The corpus callosum serves what major function?

A)processing sensory information
B)long-term memory
C)communication between hemispheres
D)emotion

Question 40

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)and functional MRI (fMRI)

A)are less useful than other types of neuroimaging for the study of brain function.
B)create three-dimensional representations of the brain's structure and function.
C)are useful only for studying features on the outer surface of the brain.
D)make self-report data unnecessary.

Question 41

Communication between neurons is ________,while communication within a neuron is ________.

A)electrical;chemical
B)chemical;electrical
C)electrical;neurotransmitter-based
D)simple;difficult

Question 42

When a neuron fires,the portion of the cell that carries the signal to the presynaptic membrane is called the

A)dendrite.
B)cell body.
C)axon.
D)nucleus.

Question 43

Motor and sensory cortices combined make up what portion of the cerebral cortex?

A)less than 5%
B)roughly 25%
C)just over 50%
D)nearly 85%

Question 44

Which of the following statements about neurons is FALSE?

A)Neurons communicate with each other through chemical signals.
B)A neuron can have many dendrites.
C)Neurons throughout the body have a reasonably consistent shape.
D)The axon of one neuron can communicate across the synapse with the dendrite of another neuron.

Question 45

If a researcher applies mild electric current to a specific area of an animal's right hemisphere primary motor projection area,which of the following is likely to happen?

A)a specific movement of a body part on the right side of the animal
B)a specific movement of a body part on the left side of the animal
C)a chaotic movement of the entire animal
D)no movement at all

Question 46

The ________ contains the metabolic machinery necessary to keep a neuron alive and functioning properly.

A)cell body
B)dendrite
C)axon
D)myelin

Question 47

A patient with visual agnosia will probably show an inability to

A)remember a list of words heard 1 hour before.
B)detect brief flashes of light.
C)recall the color of familiar objects (e.g. ,that stop signs are red).
D)identify common objects in plain view.

Question 48

One of the disadvantages of synaptic communication is that it takes time for chemicals to pass from one side of the synapse to another.Which of the following is a benefit of synaptic transmission?

A)It allows a single neuron to compare multiple signals from many sources.
B)Chemicals in our food can be broken down to influence between-cell communication.
C)It is simple,because each neuron can only receive signals from a single neuron.
D)Chemicals are more reliable than electrical energy.

Question 49

A neuron's initial,internal response to an incoming signal can vary in size.The ultimate,external response of the cell,however,does not vary in size.If the signal is sent,it is always of the same magnitude.This effect is called the

A)whole-firing potential.
B)all-or-none law.
C)uniform response law.
D)threshold potential.

Question 50

The auditory cortex follows the principle of contralateral control.Thus,the

A)right temporal lobe receives most of its input from the left ear.
B)right temporal lobe receives most of its input from the right ear.
C)right temporal lobe receives equal input from both ears.
D)information received by the right temporal lobe depends on whether the listener favors his or her right or left ear.

Question 51

A neuron is

A)a group of cells specialized for a particular type of information storage.
B)one of the fibers connecting the eye to the visual cortex.
C)one of the individual cells within the nervous system.
D)a region within the brain dedicated to a single function.

Question 52

At the synapse,a neurotransmitter is released from a ________ and is likely to bind to a ________.

A)vesicle;presynaptic membrane
B)vesicle;receptor site
C)receptor;presynaptic membrane
D)receptor;vesicle

Question 53

Olivia has sustained damage to the prefrontal area.As a result,she is most likely to have

A)neglect syndrome.
B)a variety of problems,including problems planning and implementing strategies.
C)primarily memory problems.
D)primarily language problems.

Question 54

Which of the following is NOT a primary function of glial cells?

A)provide support for neurons
B)facilitate the development of the nervous system
C)release neurotransmitters
D)clean up waste

Question 55

The primary motor projection area forms a "map" of the body.The amount of cortical tissue dedicated to different parts of the body correlates with

A)the size of the body part.
B)the distance of the body part from the brain.
C)the precision of movement for the body part.
D)The cortical area does not vary;it is the same for all body parts.

Question 56

Neuron A communicates with neuron B.The ________ of neuron A releases a signal that activates a(n)________ of neuron B.

A)cell body;soma
B)axon terminal;axon terminal
C)axon terminal;dendrite
D)soma;dendrite

Question 57

A synapse is

A)a message sent from one neuron to another.
B)part of a neuron's cell body.
C)made up of the end of one neuron's axon,another neuron's receiving membrane,and the gap between these two.
D)the name of the electric signal that occurs when a cell reaches its threshold.

Question 58

Neuron X sends a signal that is picked up and processed by Neuron Y.This between-cell communication generally occurs via

A)chemical transmission between Neuron X and Neuron Y.
B)electrical stimulation of Neuron Y by Neuron X.
C)fibers that connect Neuron X and Neuron Y.
D)the diffusion of water between Neuron X and Neuron Y.

Question 59

Ben and Quinn both have lesions in their left frontal lobes.Ben has trouble producing speech;Quinn has difficulties comprehending speech.Both Ben and Quinn are likely to receive a diagnosis of

A)neglect syndrome.
B)apraxia.
C)agnosia.
D)aphasia.

Question 60

Complete the analogy: Incoming is to outgoing as ________ is to ________.

A)dendrite;cell body
B)dendrite;axon
C)axon;cell body
D)cell body;axon

Question 61

All of the following are true of primary projection areas EXCEPT

A)they play a key role in movement and sensation.
B)the largest parts of the body correspond with the largest projection area.
C)the primary motor projection area is located in the frontal lobe.
D)the primary projection area for hearing is located in the temporal lobe.

Question 62

The largest area of the hindbrain is the ________,which plays a role in ________.

A)pons;respiration
B)thalamus;processing sensory impulses
C)medulla;maintaining a consistent heart rate
D)cerebellum;coordinating physical activity

Question 63

Compare and contrast the use of fMRI and TMS and describe their applications in psychology.What sort of information does each approach give us? Which technique can be used to make causal statements about the link between brain activity and behavior?

Question 64

As it pertains to the development and testing of theories,what are the benefits of studying neuropsychology and neuroscience for cognitive psychologists?

Question 65

What regions of the brain show similar activation during related perception and imagery tasks? What regions differ in activation during related perception and imagery tasks?

Question 66

Many neurons communicate with Neuron X.Describe the process by which Neuron X determines if a message will be sent to Neuron Y.If a message is sent,what possible effects will this signal have on the firing of Neuron Y?

Question 67

Evaluate the use of fMRI to gather information about activity in the brain.What are the advantages and shortcomings of this approach?

Question 68

Explain the relevance of studying patients who undergo split-brain procedures in psychology by answering the following questions.
a.What area of the brain is lesioned in these patients? Why do these patients elect to have this surgery?
b.How does behavior change after the surgery? How does it stay the same?
c.What have we learned about the brain and behavior as a result of this procedure?

Question 69

A primary function of the thalamus is to

A)produce emotional experiences.
B)regulate the flow of sensory information.
C)maintain a constant body temperature.
D)regulate eating behaviors.

Question 70

Explain how a signal would be processed and sent from one neuron to another.Include in your answer a description of the relevant components in the cell and synaptic activity.

Question 71

Damage to Broca's area in the brain may result in which of the following?

A)detailed dreams
B)disruption of language use
C)memory difficulties
D)visuospatial difficulties

Question 72

Visualizing your bedroom results in

A)activation in the occipital cortex.
B)decreased activation of the cingulate cortex.
C)activation of a single neuron.
D)increased activation of somatosensory regions.

Question 73

Describe the relationship between the cortical area in the primary somatosensory cortex and the corresponding surface area of the body part.Name two parts of the body that have large cortical representations and two that have small representations.

Question 74

A child in preschool is touching a bumpy surface.Tactile signals associated with this activity are received by the ________ lobe.

A)frontal
B)parietal
C)occipital
D)temporal

Question 75

Compared to computerized axial tomography (CT scans),electroencephalogram (EEG)

A)detects changes in blood flow.
B)has greater ability to detect brain lesions.
C)offers a moment-by-moment recording of brain activity.
D)assists in understanding how anatomical structures function.

Question 76

Is it fair to say that someone is "left-brained" or "right-brained"? Why or why not? Give examples to support your answer.

Question 77

Describe Capgras syndrome and one possible explanation (physiological or cognitive)for the disorder.What does this disorder tell us about the interactive nature of the brain's various parts?

Question 78

Judy has sustained damage to her visual association area,but not her primary association area.Describe the behavioral changes you would expect to see,given this trauma.What behaviors or mental processes would not be affected?