Question 1

Bearing in mind that both sides of the brain are involved in most activities, identify which of the following is (are) more closely associated with the left hemisphere:
A) enjoying a musical recording
B) wiggling the left big toe
C) giving a speech in class
D) balancing a checkbook
E) recognizing a long-lost friend

Accepted Answer

The left hemisphere is typically associated with language and analytical tasks, such as giving a speech (C) and performing mathematical operations like balancing a checkbook (D).

Question 2

A researcher scans the brains of gum-chewing volunteers, finds out which part of their brains is most active, and concludes that he or she has discovered the brain's "gum-chewing center." What's wrong with this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A researcher scans the brains of gum-chewing...

Question 3

Men and women alike have brains that can answer these questions:
1) During childhood:
A) some synapses are strengthened.
B) some synapses weaken and wither away.
C) both a and b
D) neither a nor b

Accepted Answer

During childhood, the brain goes through a process known as synaptic pruning in which some synapses (connections between neurons) are strengthened while others weaken and wither away. Therefore, both options A and B are correct.

Question 4

What does fMRI tell us that structural MRI does not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does fMRI tell us that structural...

Question 5

Mentally fill in the missing parts of the nervous system "house." Be sure, once more, that you can describe what each part of the system does.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mentally fill in the missing parts of...

Question 6

A new study reports that in a sample of 11 brains, 4 of the 6 women's brains, but only 2 of the 5 men's brains, had multiple chocolate receptors. (Note: We made this up; there's no such thing as a chocolate receptor, sorry.) The researchers conclude that their findings explain why so many women are addicted to chocolate. What concerns should a critical thinker have about this study?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A new study reports that in a...

Question 7

What are the two general approaches to mapping the brain?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the two general approaches to...

Question 8

Which hemisphere is sometimes called an "interpreter," and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which hemisphere is sometimes called an "interpreter,"...

Question 9

Which word in parentheses better fits each of the following definitions?
 1. Basic building blocks of the nervous system (nerves, neurons)
 2. Cell parts that receive nerve impulses (axons, dendrites)
 3. Site of communication between neurons (synapse, myelin sheath)
 4. Opiate-like substance in the brain (dopamine, endorphin)
 5. Chemicals that make it possible for neurons to communicate (neurotransmitters, hormones)
 6. Hormone closely associated with emotional excitement (epinephrine, estrogen)
B. Imagine that you are depressed, and you hear about a treatment for depression that affects the levels of several neurotransmitters thought to be involved in the disorder. Based on what you have learned, what questions would you want to ask before deciding whether to try the treatment?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which word in parentheses better fits each...

Question 10

What can be learned by studying patients who have had a part of the brain damaged because of disease or injury? What can be learned by studying individuals whose disorders have required surgical lesions? What are the drawbacks of the case study method? Include in your essay an evaluation of the case studies of Phineas Gage and split-brain patients.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What can be learned by studying patients...

Question 11

Why is transcranial magnetic stimulation essentially a virtual lesion method?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is transcranial magnetic stimulation essentially a...

Question 12

Thousands of people have taken courses and bought tapes that promise to develop the creativity and intuition of their right hemispheres. What characteristics of human thought might explain the eagerness of some people to glorify "right-brainedness" and disparage "left-brainedness" (or vice versa)?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Thousands of people have taken courses and...

Question 13

Name two types of cognitive tasks that may show different patterns of brain activity depending on a person's culture.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Name two types of cognitive tasks that...

Quiz 4: The Brain and Nervous System

Bearing in mind that both sides of the brain are involved in most activities, identify which of the following is (are) more closely associated with the left hemisphere: