Question 1

Why do many reflexes, such as pulling your hand away from a hot iron, happen so quickly?

Accepted Answer

Many reflexes, such as pulling your hand away from a hot iron, happen so quickly because the message involved does not have to go all the way to the brain. Instead, the message is processed in the spinal cord or lower brain regions, which allows for a more immediate response.

Question 2

If you were to play a very dangerous (and somewhat gruesome) game and saw part of your skull off and look at your now well-ventilated brain in a mirror, the first structure(s) you would see under the skull will be the ________.

Accepted Answer

The meninges are a set of three protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. They are located directly beneath the skull and would be the first structure seen after sawing off part of the skull. The corpus callosum and gyrus are both deeper structures within the brain that would not be visible without further dissection. Ventricle refers to fluid-filled spaces inside the brain and would also not be immediately visible.

Question 3

Warren is having trouble deciding what he wants to eat for breakfast. Which lobe of his brain is especially active as he makes his selection?

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobe is responsible for decision-making, planning, and problem-solving, all of which are necessary for Warren to choose what he wants to eat for breakfast.

Question 4

Which of the following lobes is involved in planning, memory, and personality?

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobes are responsible for executive functions such as planning, decision making, and personality. They are also involved in working memory and attention.

Question 5

Which sensory system is generally controlled by the parietal lobes?

Accepted Answer

The parietal lobes are primarily responsible for processing somatosensory information, which includes touch, temperature, and pain sensations from the body.

Question 6

The ________ is located right behind the central sulcus.

Accepted Answer

The somatosensory strip, also known as the primary sensory cortex, is located right behind the central sulcus in the parietal lobe. This area is responsible for processing sensory information from the body, including touch, pressure, temperature, and pain.

Question 7

The two halves of the brain are connected by the ________.

Accepted Answer

The corpus callosum is a large bundle of nerves that connects the two halves or hemispheres of the brain. This structure allows for communication and coordination between the two sides of the brain, enabling various cognitive processes and functions. A, B, and D are all parts or regions of the brain, but they do not specifically refer to the connection between the two hemispheres.

Question 8

Bobby B. was rollerblading when a cat jumped right in front of him, causing him to fall. When he fell, he landed on the side of his head. Shortly afterwards, Bobby complained that he could not understand what people were saying to him. Which lobe would have been most affected by this fall given what he experienced?

Accepted Answer

The temporal lobe is responsible for processing auditory information, which would be necessary for understanding what people are saying. Bobby's difficulty in understanding speech suggests that his temporal lobe was affected by the fall.

Question 9

Darla was in an automobile accident that resulted in an injury to her brain. Her sense of touch has been affected. Which part of the brain is the most likely site of the damage?

Accepted Answer

The parietal lobes are responsible for processing sensory information, including touch, temperature, and pain. Damage to this area can result in sensory deficits or abnormalities. Therefore, it is the most likely site of damage in Darla's case.

Question 10

Which of the following is one of the lobes of the human brain?

Accepted Answer

The occipital lobe is one of the four main lobes of the human brain and is responsible for visual processing. The cruciate, anterior, and cerebellar are not lobes of the brain.

Question 11

The thick band of neurons that connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres is called the ___________.

Accepted Answer

The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers that connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres. The cortex is the outer layer of the brain, the cerebrum refers to the two hemispheres of the brain, and the cerebellum is responsible for motor coordination and balance.

Question 12

Which of the following regions contains the primary centers for processing visual data?

Accepted Answer

The occipital lobe is responsible for processing visual information received from the eyes, and is thus the primary center for visual processing. The parietal lobe is responsible for processing sensory information from the body, while the temporal lobe is responsible for processing auditory information and language. The frontal lobe is involved in a variety of cognitive functions, including decision making and motor control.

Question 13

Your occipital lobe is located ________.

Accepted Answer

The occipital lobe is located at the back of the brain, specifically behind the parietal lobe and above the temporal lobe. It is primarily responsible for processing and interpreting visual information.

Question 14

The temporal lobe is involved in which of the following functions?

Accepted Answer

The temporal lobe is involved in the expression of language, which includes the ability to produce and understand spoken and written words.

Question 15

Suppose Al is trying to recall where he left his keys, Hal is listening to his MP3 player, and Sal is looking at a beautiful painting in an art museum. Which individual is using his parietal lobe?

Accepted Answer

Al is trying to recall information, which involves the parietal lobe responsible for processing and integrating sensory information related to touch, temperature, and spatial awareness.

Question 16

The part of the brain located just behind the temples, containing neurons responsible for the sense of hearing and meaningful speech, is called the ___________.

Accepted Answer

The temporal lobes, which are located just behind the temples, contain the primary auditory cortex responsible for hearing and the Wernicke's area responsible for understanding and producing meaningful speech. The parietal lobes are responsible for processing sensory information, the frontal lobes are responsible for executive functions such as decision-making, and the occipital lobes are responsible for vision.

Question 17

Suzie Q. was rollerblading when a cat jumped right in front of her, causing her to fall. She landed on the back of her head at which point she saw "stars." Which lobe would have been most affected by this fall given what she saw?

Accepted Answer

The occipital lobe is responsible for processing visual information, so seeing "stars" would suggest a disturbance in this area due to the fall on the back of the head.

Question 18

After a head injury a person reports that she is unable to see, although her eyes are uninjured. A doctor would suspect an injury in the ______ lobe.

Accepted Answer

The occipital lobe is responsible for processing visual information. If a person is unable to see after a head injury, it suggests that there has been damage to this area of the brain.

Question 19

The chief function of the occipital lobe is concerned with ________.

Accepted Answer

The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for processing visual stimuli and interpreting the information received from the eyes. It is the main center for visual processing and perception, making it the best choice for this question.

Question 20

Which of the following is generally handled by the frontal lobes of the brain?

Accepted Answer

Reasoning is commonly associated with the frontal lobes of the brain, specifically the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for executive functions such as decision making, planning, problem-solving, and regulating behavior. None of the other options are primarily handled by the frontal lobes.

Quiz 2: The Biology of Mind and Behavior: The Brain in Action