Question 1

Suppose that you meet a professor who is trying to determine what portions of the brain are involved in trying to recall a word that is on the tip of your tongue. This person is likely to use the approach of

Accepted Answer

Cognitive neuroscience is the field that studies the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive processes, such as memory and language, which includes trying to recall a word that is on the tip of your tongue. This approach often involves brain imaging techniques to observe which parts of the brain are active during specific cognitive tasks.

Question 2

Which of the following is the best example of a schema?

Accepted Answer

A schema is a cognitive framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information. Choice C best exemplifies a schema by describing a general understanding of what elements are typically included in the concept of a "dentist's office," which is how schemas function in organizing categories of information in our minds.

Question 3

A neuroscience technique that provides time-course information about the processing of stimuli, plus coarse-grained information about the location of neural tissue that is involved in this processing, is called

Accepted Answer

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) provides both time-course information and coarse-grained spatial information about neural processing, unlike ERP which is primarily temporal, and PET which is primarily spatial.

Question 4

According to the first chapter in your textbook, research in cognitive neuroscience

Accepted Answer

Research in cognitive neuroscience frequently involves obtaining brain images while individuals are engaged in cognitive tasks, to understand how different brain areas are activated during these tasks. This approach has become increasingly popular and sophisticated with advancements in neuroimaging technologies.

Question 5

A research team is studying which parts of the brain are active when a participant looks at a photograph of a person, and tries to judge how intelligent that person is. This kind of study is an example of

Accepted Answer

This study is an example of social cognitive neuroscience because it investigates the neural mechanisms that underlie social processes and behavior, in this case, the judgment of intelligence based on visual stimuli (photographs of people).

Question 6

Imagine that some researchers are trying to design a computer-simulation model for an arithmetic task. They would be most likely to

Accepted Answer

Researchers designing a computer-simulation model for an arithmetic task would aim to create a system that mimics human problem-solving techniques, as this would provide insights into human cognitive processes and strategies.

Question 7

According to the discussion of cognitive neuroscience, the PET-scan technique

Accepted Answer

PET scans measure blood flow in the brain, which is used as an indicator of brain activity in various regions during cognitive tasks. This technique is not limited to memory tests and can be adapted for studying a wide range of cognitive processes. It is not considered too dangerous for use with human participants and can measure processes over longer periods than one-tenth of a second.

Question 8

When neuroscientists use PET scans (positron emission tomography),

Accepted Answer

PET scans measure increased blood flow to different parts of the brain, which is associated with increased activity in those areas while a person performs a task. This technique does not involve recording from individual neurons, stimulating brain regions directly, or placing electrodes on the scalp.

Question 9

An important characteristic of the connectionist approach is that

Accepted Answer

The connectionist approach, also known as neural networks or parallel distributed processing, is valued for its flexibility in explaining a wide range of cognitive skills. This approach models cognitive processes as occurring through networks of interconnected units or nodes, which can simulate various cognitive functions by adjusting the connections and strengths between these units.

Question 10

Some cognitive neuroscientists study brain lesions to learn more about brain functions. However, a major problem with this technique is that

Accepted Answer

Brain lesions often affect multiple areas, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact function of a specific brain region.

Question 11

Suppose that you want to see whether the human brain responds differently when a person reads a pleasant word, rather than an unpleasant word. Which of the following neuroscience techniques would provide the most useful information about processing these two kinds of words?

Accepted Answer

The event-related potential (ERP) technique is most useful for measuring the brain's electrical response to specific stimuli, such as reading pleasant versus unpleasant words, providing precise timing information about the brain's processing.

Question 12

Metacognition refers to

Accepted Answer

Metacognition refers to one's awareness and understanding of their own thought processes, essentially thinking about one's thinking.

Question 13

A researcher wants to study how people's attention shifts when they see a visual stimulus in an unexpected portion of a screen that they are viewing; this attention shift occurs in just a fraction of a second. Which of the following techniques is this researcher most likely to use?

Accepted Answer

The event-related potential technique (ERP) is most suitable for studying rapid, time-sensitive changes in brain activity, such as the quick shift in attention in response to a visual stimulus. ERP measures brain response directly related to specific sensory, cognitive, or motor events with high temporal resolution, making it ideal for capturing changes that occur in fractions of a second.

Question 14

One component of your general knowledge focuses on semantic memory. Which of the following would be an example of semantic memory?

Accepted Answer

Semantic memory is a type of long-term memory that involves the storage of general knowledge and facts about the world, including the meanings of words and concepts. Therefore, knowing that the word "bear" is similar to "lion" because both refer to types of animals is an example of semantic memory.

Question 15

In contrast to a PET scan, the fMRI technique

Accepted Answer

fMRI provides more precise temporal information than PET scans, making it better for measuring a series of events in the brain. It does not require radioactive chemicals, does not involve placing electrodes, and its accuracy in determining the nature of thoughts is not the contrasted feature here.

Question 16

How does the functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging technique (fMRI) compare with other imaging techniques?

Accepted Answer

fMRI is superior to PET scans in capturing rapid changes in brain activity because it measures changes in blood flow associated with neural activity, allowing for more detailed temporal resolution of brain function.

Question 17

According to Chapter 1's introduction to the chapters in your textbook, perceptual processes

Accepted Answer

Perceptual processes involve using prior knowledge to interpret sensory information, which is why option A is correct. These processes are not limited to concept formation, pattern recognition without attention, or solely explained by behaviorist principles, making the other options incorrect.

Question 18

Which of the following students provides the best understanding of the PET scan technique?

Accepted Answer

Jamie's explanation is correct because PET scans (Positron Emission Tomography scans) work by using a radioactive tracer that is injected into the bloodstream, which then allows for the imaging of blood flow, metabolism, or other biochemical functions in the body, including the brain. This process does not directly record brain activity fluctuations within fractions of a second, nor is it limited to individuals with brain lesions, and it is not a faster version of event-related potential techniques.

Question 19

Research on people with brain lesions

Accepted Answer

Research on people with brain lesions often involves studying the cognitive abilities that are impaired following a stroke, tumor, or accident, to understand the brain's structure and function better.

Question 20

An important difference between the classical AI approach and the connectionist approach is that the classical AI approach

Accepted Answer

The classical AI approach, also known as symbolic AI, operates on a step-by-step basis, using rules and symbols to process information, unlike the connectionist approach (neural networks) which models information processing in a way that resembles the interconnected structure of neurons in the human brain.

Quiz 1: An Introduction to Cognitive Psychology