Question 1

The right hemisphere of the brain:

Accepted Answer

The right hemisphere of the brain excels in the ability to read facial expressions. Option A is incorrect as language processing is mainly done by the left hemisphere. Option B is also incorrect as logical, sequential, and symbolic tasks are mainly performed by the left hemisphere. Option D is incorrect as there is no such mental module in the brain.

Question 2

The primary reason for performing split-brain surgery on humans was to:

Accepted Answer

Split-brain surgery was primarily performed to reduce the seizures in patients with severe epilepsy that could not be controlled with medication. By severing the connection between the two hemispheres of the brain, the spread of epileptic activity could be reduced or eliminated, leading to a significant improvement in quality of life for patients.

Question 3

Some researchers have used MRI scans to observe brain functioning during different tasks. When a rhyming function of language was studied, the researchers found that:

Accepted Answer

The researchers found that women show activity in both hemispheres, but men show activity only in the left hemisphere during a rhyming function of language.

Question 4

When Myers and Sperry severed the corpus callosum in cats they found that:

Accepted Answer

Severing the corpus callosum results in the two hemispheres of the brain being unable to communicate effectively with each other, leading to the phenomenon known as split-brain. This means that each hemisphere may not be aware of what the other hemisphere is processing or doing. This was observed in cats when Myers and Sperry severed their corpus callosum.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a conclusion drawn by scientists studying sex differences in the brains of men and women?

Accepted Answer

Scientists have not concluded that brain differences explain women's superior intuition and love of talking about feelings. In fact, they have been cautious about making any direct causal links between brain differences and specific behaviors or mental abilities.

Question 6

If you look straight ahead, then everything in the left side of the scene before you goes to the:

Accepted Answer

The left side of the scene before you goes to the right half of your brain. This is because the right half of the brain processes information from the left visual field, while the left half of the brain processes information from the right visual field.

Question 7

The left hemisphere contains regions that are:

Accepted Answer

The left hemisphere is generally associated with language processing. A is incorrect because the creation of art and music involves both hemispheres of the brain. B and D are incorrect because there is no evidence linking the left hemisphere to withdrawal or negative emotions.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The claim that the idea that the brain consists of modules and that the self is an illusion is consistent with many Western spiritual traditions is false. This statement is not supported by any evidence or research.

Question 9

In a classic split-brain study, a picture of a chicken claw was flashed to the left hemisphere while a picture of a snow scene was flashed to the right hemisphere. When asked to choose a related image from an array of pictures:

Accepted Answer

The left hemisphere, which controls the right hand, processes the chicken claw and points to a chicken. The right hemisphere, which controls the left hand, processes the snow scene and points to a shovel.

Question 10

If Hiroshi's brain is like that of most people, then language will be handled by his:

Accepted Answer

Language is primarily controlled by the left hemisphere of the brain in most people. Therefore, if Hiroshi's brain is typical of most people, language will be handled by his left hemisphere.

Question 11

Researchers took photographs of different faces, cut them in two, and pasted different halves together to form composite faces. The reconstructed photographs were flashed quickly to split-brain patients. It was found that the split-brain patients would:

Accepted Answer

Split-brain patients have a severed corpus callosum, which connects the two hemispheres of the brain. This means that each hemisphere processes information independently. In the experiment, the right hemisphere (which controls the left hand) saw the left side of the image, while the left hemisphere (which controls the right hand) saw the right side of the image. Since language is primarily processed in the left hemisphere for most people, the patient would be able to verbally name the person in the right part of the image (left hemisphere) but would point to the left image with their left hand (controlled by the right hemisphere). Therefore, the answer is C) name the person in the right part of the image and point with the left hand to the left image.

Question 12

When researchers used MRI scans to observe brain functioning during different rhyme-judgment tasks they found that:

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that there are no significant differences in performance between men and women in rhyme-judgment tasks when using MRI scans to observe brain functioning.

Question 13

Which of the following is primarily a function of the right hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

Recognizing faces is primarily a function of the right hemisphere.

Question 14

Dr. Konstanza has been looking for anatomical differences between the brains of women and men. After conducting several autopsies, she is most likely to find that:

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that women tend to have a greater density of neurons in areas of the brain associated with language and auditory processing, which may include the cortical area that processes auditory information.

Question 15

When asked about the input from each cerebral hemisphere, two well-known split-brain researchers, Michael Gazzaniga and Roger Sperry, would agree that:

Accepted Answer

Gazzaniga and Sperry's research showed that although each hemisphere has unique abilities, in normal brains, they work together in everyday activities. They did not argue that one hemisphere was superior to the other, but rather emphasized the importance of the two hemispheres working in tandem.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

Each hemisphere actually receives sensory input from the opposite side of the body and controls movement of the same side of the body. This is known as contralateral organization, which is true for both sensory and motor functions in the brain.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

While there are some differences between male and female brains, the effect of those differences on behaviour and personality traits is not yet fully understood. While some studies have suggested differences in certain areas of the brain, such as the size and connectivity of certain regions, there is not enough evidence to make definitive statements about the overall differences between male and female brains. It is important to note that individual variation within gender groups is likely to be greater than any average differences between them.

Question 18

After a serious head injury, Tom has difficulty doing a series of tasks in the proper sequence. In addition, he cannot stop doing a task at the appropriate time. It is most likely that Tom's ________ was injured.

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobe is responsible for executive function, which includes the ability to plan, organize, and complete tasks in the proper sequence. It also plays a role in inhibiting inappropriate behaviors, such as stopping a task at the appropriate time. A serious head injury affecting the frontal lobe can result in difficulty with these functions, which is consistent with Tom's symptoms.

Question 19

If Darren's brain is like that of most people, then solving spatial-visual problems will be handled by his:

Accepted Answer

Spatial-visual problems are typically processed in the right hemisphere of the brain, as this hemisphere is responsible for pattern recognition, spatial awareness, and visual imagery. The occipital lobe primarily processes visual information, but it is not solely responsible for spatial-visual problem-solving. The left hemisphere is typically more involved in language and analytical thinking, and the corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres but is not directly involved in problem-solving.

Question 20

Although a split-brain patient could not describe an object presented to his left visual field, he could:

Accepted Answer

In split-brain patients, the right hemisphere, which processes information from the left visual field, cannot communicate with the left hemisphere, which is responsible for speech. However, the right hemisphere can control the left hand, allowing the patient to point to the object with the left hand.

Quiz 4: The Brain: Source of Mind and Self