Question 1

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a technique that

Accepted Answer

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a non-invasive technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to measure changes in blood flow in the brain. This allows scientists to see which areas of the brain are active while a person is performing a task or experiencing a certain emotion, providing insights into brain function.

Question 2

Harry has been diagnosed with epilepsy by his neurologist.Which of the following should the neurologist use to assess Harry's epilepsy by studying his brain-wave activity?

Accepted Answer

Electroencephalograph (EEG) is used to measure electrical activity in the brain and can be used to assess and diagnose epilepsy. Electrooculography (EOG) measures eye movements, electromyography (EMG) measures muscle activity, and electrocardiogram (ECG) measures heart activity, which are not directly related to epilepsy diagnosis.

Question 3

The reticular formation of the midbrain is involved in

Accepted Answer

The reticular formation of the midbrain is involved in the modulation and control of stereotyped patterns of behavior such as walking, sleeping, or turning to attend to a sudden noise. It does not control breathing, regulate reflexes, control and coordination of balance, hearing, parasympathetic function, or higher brain functions such as thinking, learning, and consciousness.

Question 4

Damien has been unable to sleep for the past few weeks.He wakes up in the middle of the night and cannot go back to sleep.On certain occasions, he cannot fall asleep at all and at other times, he is unable to wake up from sleep.In the context of organization of the brain, Damien's problem with sleep and arousal is most likely caused by the poor functioning of the

Accepted Answer

The pons is responsible for coordinating sleep and arousal. Damien's inability to fall asleep and wake up properly suggests that his pons may not be functioning well.

Question 5

Michael has schizophrenia.His doctor prescribed a new drug that blocks or interferes with the activity of dopamine.Michael's doctor is using _____ to treat his disorder.

Accepted Answer

Michael's doctor prescribed a drug that blocks or interferes with the activity of dopamine, which suggests that the drug is an antagonist. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is often associated with schizophrenia, and antipsychotic medications that target dopamine receptors are commonly used to treat the disorder. Therefore, the best choice is B, an antagonist. The other choices (A, C, and D) are not appropriate for treating schizophrenia. An agonist would enhance dopamine activity, which may worsen symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia. A brain lesion or lobotomy involves damaging or removing brain tissue, which is not an appropriate treatment for schizophrenia and may lead to significant adverse effects.

Question 6

Marshall's cerebellum was damaged in a car accident.Marshal is likely to have problems with

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is responsible for balance and muscle coordination, so damage to this area would likely result in difficulties with these functions.

Question 7

Which of the following methods of studying the brain records the brain's electrical activity by placing electrodes on the scalp to detect brain-wave activity?

Accepted Answer

The method described in the question is the electroencephalogram (EEG), which records the brain's electrical activity by placing electrodes on the scalp to detect brain-wave activity. PET, MRI, and fMRI do not directly measure electrical activity, but instead measure blood flow, metabolic activity, and magnetic fields, respectively.

Question 8

Which part of the nervous system regulates breathing and heart rate?

Accepted Answer

The medulla is located in the brainstem and is responsible for regulating involuntary functions such as breathing and heart rate.

Question 9

Mark Johnson, a doctor in Dallas, prescribed an antidepressant drug Prozac to his patient, Ted.Prozac works by increasing brain levels of serotonin.This means that Prozac is considered

Accepted Answer

Prozac works by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain, which is a neurotransmitter associated with mood regulation. An agonist is a substance that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a biological response. Therefore, Prozac is an agonist because it binds to serotonin receptors and increases the activity of serotonin.

Question 10

An _____ is a drug that mimics or increases a neurotransmitter's effects, whereas an _____ is a drug that blocks a neurotransmitter's effects.

Accepted Answer

An agonist is a drug that mimics or increases the effects of a neurotransmitter, whereas an antagonist is a drug that blocks the effects of a neurotransmitter. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer. Choices C and D refer to specific neurotransmitters, but do not describe their agonist or antagonist effects.

Question 11

In which of the following ways does functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) detect the functioning of the brain?

Accepted Answer

fMRI works by detecting changes in blood oxygenation levels in response to neural activity. This is known as the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal. When a brain region becomes more active, it requires more oxygen to fuel its processes. To meet this increased demand, blood flow to the region increases, delivering more oxygenated blood. The fMRI scanner detects this increase in oxygenated blood, which indicates which brain regions are more active during a given task. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer. Choices B and C are incorrect as fMRI doesn't measure glucose or brain waves respectively. Choice D is also incorrect as fMRI cannot establish a cause-effect relationship.

Question 12

The _____ relays information between the brain and the eyes and ears.

Accepted Answer

The midbrain is responsible for relaying information between the brain and the eyes and ears, making it the best choice for this question. The forebrain is responsible for more complex functions such as consciousness and emotion, while the hindbrain oversees basic bodily functions like breathing and heart rate. The cerebellum is primarily responsible for motor coordination and balance.

Question 13

Stern Tyler, a neuroscientist who is collecting data for a new research study, uses techniques for monitoring the amount of glucose in various areas of the brain.Which of the following methods is Stern Tyler using in this study?

Accepted Answer

Stern Tyler is using positron emission tomography (PET scan) to monitor the amount of glucose in various areas of the brain. PET scans measure changes in blood flow and glucose metabolism in the brain, providing information about brain activity and function. Brain lesioning involves damaging or removing specific parts of the brain to study the effects on behavior, while staining is a technique used to visualize specific structures in the brain. EEG measures electrical activity in the brain, but does not provide information about glucose metabolism.

Question 14

Michael, a researcher in the field of neuroscience, has a theory about a specific area of the brain causing difficulties in face recognition.To draw a solid causal inference, he intends to test his hypothesis on dogs by disrupting regions of their brains and examining the effects of this disruption on the dogs' face-recognition capacity.Which of the following techniques should be used by Michael to achieve his purpose?

Accepted Answer

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive technique that can be used to temporarily disrupt neural activity in specific regions of the brain. Michael can use TMS on the dogs to disrupt the suspected region of the brain responsible for face recognition and observe the effects of this disruption on the dogs' ability to recognize faces. CAT scan, MRI, and fMRI can provide structural and functional images of the brain, but they are not suitable for altering neural activity.

Question 15

Which of the following is a significance of the brain-lesioning process?

Accepted Answer

Brain-lesioning involves intentionally damaging specific regions of the brain in order to observe the effects on behavior and cognition. This process helps researchers determine what functions are associated with specific brain regions.

Question 16

Which of the following principles underlies the technique of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)?

Accepted Answer

fMRI relies on the principle that mental activity is associated with changes in the oxygenated blood levels in the brain. When an area of the brain is activated, there is an increase in blood flow to that area, bringing more oxygenated blood to fuel the active neurons. This change in oxygenated blood levels can be detected by the fMRI machine, which uses magnetic fields to measure this signal and create an image of brain activity.

Question 17

Which of the following is true of the brain-imaging technique known as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?

Accepted Answer

TMS can be used to study brain function by temporarily disrupting normal activity in specific brain regions, allowing researchers to infer cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 18

Neuroscientists who surgically remove, destroy, or eliminate the brain tissue of laboratory animals are using which of the following techniques for studying the brain?

Accepted Answer

Brain lesioning involves the deliberate manipulation or removal of specific areas of the brain to study their functions. This technique is commonly used in animal studies to determine the functions of different brain areas.

Question 19

Lilly, who has just given birth, is able to provide nourishment for her baby and loves her newborn unconditionally.Which of the following neurotransmitters is said to play an important role in this case?

Accepted Answer

Oxytocin is known as the "hormone of love" and plays a significant role in social bonding and maternal behavior, including lactation and nurturing of infants. It is released during childbirth and breastfeeding, promoting mother-infant attachment and maternal behavior, including breastfeeding.

Question 20

Arnold Becker, a doctor in Seattle, needs information about the location and extent of damage involving stroke and loss of memory of his patient, Judith.Which of the following techniques will he most likely use to diagnose Judith's condition?

Accepted Answer

Computerized axial tomography (CAT scan) is a technique that uses X-rays to create detailed images of the brain. It can help determine the location and extent of damage in cases of stroke and loss of memory. Brain lesioning, positron emission tomography (PET), and electroencephalogram (EEG) are also diagnostic techniques, but they may not be as specific for detecting damage caused by stroke and memory loss.

Quiz 2: The Brain and Behavior