Question 1

The somatosensory cortex is located in the ________ lobes.

Accepted Answer

The somatosensory cortex is responsible for processing sensory information related to touch, pressure, temperature, and pain. It is located in the parietal lobes of the brain.

Question 2

The region of your cerebral cortex that enables you to recognize a person as your own mother is

Accepted Answer

Recognition of a person as one's mother involves higher order cognitive processes such as memory, emotions, and personal association. These processes are handled by association areas in the cerebral cortex, which integrate input from multiple brain regions to form complex perceptions and thoughts. The cerebellum and somatosensory cortex are involved in motor coordination and sensory processing respectively, and are not directly responsible for recognizing people. The corpus callosum is a bundle of nerve fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and facilitates communication between them, but is not specifically involved in recognition of individuals.

Question 3

The brain devotes more tissue within the ________ for body areas that are highly sensitive to touch such as the lips.

Accepted Answer

The somatosensory cortex is responsible for processing sensory information related to touch, pressure, temperature, and pain. Different body areas have different levels of sensitivity, and the brain devotes more tissue in the somatosensory cortex to the areas that are highly sensitive, such as the lips. The other options do not specifically relate to the processing of touch or sensory information.

Question 4

The process of comparing currently experienced visual input with past visual memories takes place in

Accepted Answer

Association areas are responsible for higher-order processing of sensory information, including comparing incoming visual information with past memories. The thalamus is involved in relaying sensory information to the cortex, but not in processing higher-order information. The cerebellum is primarily involved in motor coordination and balance. The corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres of the brain, but does not play a direct role in visual processing.

Question 5

To trigger a person's hand to make a fist,José Delgado stimulated the individual's

Accepted Answer

The motor cortex is responsible for voluntary movement of the body, so stimulating it would trigger a person's hand to make a fist. The hippocampus is associated with memory and the somatosensory cortex processes sensory information from touch, so they would not be as closely associated with making a fist. The corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres of the brain but does not directly control movement.

Question 6

If a neurosurgeon directly stimulated parts of your somatosensory cortex,which of the following would you most likely experience?

Accepted Answer

The somatosensory cortex is responsible for processing sensory information related to touch and body position. Therefore, direct stimulation of this area would most likely lead to the experience of touches on the face.

Question 7

A monkey with electrodes implanted in its brain is able to move a computer cursor simply by thinking about the move.This brain-computer interface best illustrates the potential value of

Accepted Answer

The monkey's ability to control a computer cursor through implanted electrodes in its brain is an example of cognitive neural prosthetics, where technology is used to help individuals with neurological or motor-related disabilities regain control over certain functions. This has potential applications for individuals with paralysis or other mobility impairments. Neural plasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize itself in response to stimuli, neurogenesis is the process of new neuron growth in the brain, and constraint-induced therapy is a rehabilitative technique for motor-related disabilities. While relevant to brain function and rehabilitation, these concepts are not directly related to the specific example of brain-computer interface technology.

Question 8

Suppose that a speech synthesizer could produce specific words when signaled by the brain activation patterns involved when a person merely thinks about these words.This would be an illustration of

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes the use of cognitive neural prosthetics, which involve translating brain signals into specific actions or outputs, such as producing speech through a speech synthesizer. This technology has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life for individuals with speech impairments or disabilities. Constraint-induced therapy focuses on strengthening existing neural pathways, lateralization refers to the specialization of brain function in each hemisphere, and neurogenesis is the process of generating new neurons in the brain. None of these concepts relate directly to the scenario described in the question.

Question 9

Phineas Gage underwent a dramatic personality change after a tamping iron inflicted massive damage to his ________ lobes.

Accepted Answer

Phineas Gage underwent a dramatic personality change after a tamping iron inflicted massive damage to his frontal lobes. Research on Phineas Gage played a key role in the development of our understanding of the role of the frontal lobes in social and emotional behavior.

Question 10

Teaching a patient to regain use of an impaired limb by limiting his or her use of the good limb is called

Accepted Answer

The technique described is known as constraint-induced therapy, where the use of the unaffected limb is limited to encourage the use of the impaired limb and promote its recovery. Neurogenesis refers to the formation of new neurons. Cognitive neural prosthetics involve using technology to repair or replace damaged neural tissues. Lateralization refers to the specialization of brain functions in the left and right hemispheres.

Question 11

Which of the following is located in the occipital lobes?

Accepted Answer

The occipital lobes are primarily responsible for processing visual information, so the visual cortex is located in this area. The somatosensory cortex is located in the parietal lobes, the auditory cortex is located in the temporal lobes, and the motor cortex is located in the frontal lobes.

Question 12

Association areas are located

Accepted Answer

Association areas are distributed in four lobes of the brain - frontal, temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes. Therefore, choice D is the best answer as it includes all of these lobes. Choice A and B are incorrect as they only include the frontal and temporal lobes, respectively. Choice C is also incorrect as it leaves out the occipital lobe.

Question 13

The cortical regions that are NOT directly involved in sensory or motor functions are known as

Accepted Answer

Association areas are the cortical regions that are not directly involved in sensory or motor functions. The hippocampus is involved in memory formation, the frontal lobes are involved in executive functions, and the parietal lobes are involved in sensory processing and spatial awareness.

Question 14

Most people would not advocate pushing one person in front of a runaway boxcar to save five others.But those with damage to the ________ often do.

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobe association areas are responsible for decision-making and moral reasoning. Damage to this area can result in impaired judgment and an inability to weigh the consequences of one's actions, leading to decisions that may seem morally questionable to others. This is known as acquired sociopathy or acquired psychopathy.

Question 15

Damage to the association areas in the prefrontal cortex is most likely to interfere with the ability to

Accepted Answer

The prefrontal cortex is responsible for higher cognitive functions such as decision making, planning, and problem solving. Damage to the association areas in this region is most likely to interfere with the ability to formulate plans.

Question 16

When Stoyka was a child,a brain disease required the surgical removal of her left cerebral hemisphere.Stoyka is now a successful college student who lives a normal life.Her success best illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

Stoyka's ability to live a normal life despite the surgical removal of her left cerebral hemisphere demonstrates the brain's ability to adapt and reorganize itself, known as plasticity.

Question 17

Plasticity refers to the brain's capacity to

Accepted Answer

Plasticity refers to the brain's ability to form new neural connections and pathways in response to experience, injury, or changes in the environment. This allows the brain to adapt to new situations and learn new skills.

Question 18

Regions of the cerebral cortex involved primarily in higher mental functions such as learning are called

Accepted Answer

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate input from multiple sources to carry out complex mental functions, including learning, memory, and decision-making. The motor cortex (A) is primarily involved in controlling voluntary movement, the corpus callosum (B) is a bundle of fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres, and the somatosensory cortex (D) is involved in processing sensory information from the body.

Question 19

One stroke patient was put to work cleaning tables,with his good arm and hand restrained.Slowly,the bad arm recovered its skills.He gradually learned to write again and even to play tennis.This best illustrates the value of

Accepted Answer

The recovery of skills in the bad arm of the stroke patient demonstrates the concept of plasticity, which refers to the brain's ability to change its structure and function in response to experiences and stimuli. This is an example of how the brain can reorganize itself after damage or injury, allowing individuals to regain lost abilities or learn new ones.

Question 20

Which of the following is located in the temporal lobes?

Accepted Answer

The auditory cortex, which is responsible for processing auditory information, is located in the temporal lobes. The visual cortex is located in the occipital lobes, the motor cortex is located in the frontal lobes, and the somatosensory cortex is located in the parietal lobes.

Quiz 3: The Biology of Mind