Question 1

The rationale for cutting the corpus callosum in epilepsy is that the corpus callosum __________.

Accepted Answer

The corpus callosum allows seizures to spread from one hemisphere to the other. By cutting the corpus callosum, the spread of seizures is limited to the hemisphere they occur in, reducing their severity and frequency.

Question 2

An area where the brain tissue seems to form a map of the sensory system is called a(n) __________.

Accepted Answer

A projection area is responsible for receiving and processing sensory information from a specific part of the body. It is located adjacent to a primary area, which is responsible for initial processing of that sensory information. The allocation area and integration area are not specific terms used to describe the organization of sensory information in the brain.

Question 3

During an epileptic attack, abnormal seizure "waves" are commonly recorded in both hemispheres. One major reason for this is that __________.

Accepted Answer

The corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres of the brain and allows for communication between them. The abnormal seizure activity can cross this bridge and affect both hemispheres simultaneously. EEG recording devices are sensitive enough to detect this activity, and while there may be differences in the severity or location of the seizure activity in each hemisphere, it is common for both to be affected during a seizure. The dominance of one hemisphere over the other does not necessarily play a role in this process.

Question 4

A researcher stimulates a brain area with leads, resulting in movements on the right side of the body. The stimulation likely occurred in __________.

Accepted Answer

The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body, and stimulation of a brain area in the left hemisphere would result in movements on the right side. The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body, the corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres and the limbic system is not responsible for motor control.

Question 5

Following a stroke, a patient shows grossly diminished sensitivity to touch and other stimulation in the right hand and arm. The probable site of the lesion is the __________.

Accepted Answer

The left somatosensory area of the brain is responsible for processing sensory information from the right side of the body. Therefore, a lesion in this area would likely result in diminished sensitivity to touch in the right hand and arm.

Question 6

What part of an elephant might you expect to have a particularly large amount of space in the motor homunculus?

Accepted Answer

The motor homunculus is a part of the brain that controls voluntary movements and is organized in a way that different body parts have corresponding areas in the homunculus. The larger the body part, the larger the corresponding area in the homunculus. The elephant's trunk is a large and dexterous body part that is extensively used for manipulating the environment, and therefore, it is expected to have a larger representation in the motor homunculus compared to other body parts.

Question 7

A neurosurgeon has cut the corpus callosum of her patient. It is most likely that this patient suffered from __________.

Accepted Answer

Cutting the corpus callosum is a treatment for intractable epilepsy, a condition characterized by seizures that do not respond to medication. The corpus callosum is the main pathway for communication between the two hemispheres of the brain, and severing it can reduce the spread of seizure activity between the hemispheres.

Question 8

A general characteristic of the primary motor area is that __________.

Accepted Answer

The primary motor area is characterized by the amount of tissue devoted to specific body areas being proportional to their motor functions. This is known as somatotopic organization, and it means that adjacent areas of the motor cortex control adjacent body parts. This organization reflects the fine motor control and precision that humans possess.

Question 9

The brain is more or less anatomically symmetrical around the midline. There is, for instance, a left-side amygdala and a right-side amygdala. At the same time, the brain is lateralized, meaning that __________.

Accepted Answer

Lateralization refers to the phenomenon where certain cognitive functions are primarily located in either the left or right hemisphere of the brain. For instance, language is typically located in the left hemisphere, while spatial processing is often located in the right hemisphere. Therefore, there is an asymmetry of function between the two brain halves, leading to lateralization.

Question 10

Equal-sized areas of the body do not receive equal amounts of cortical space. For instance, more cortical space is devoted to the __________ than to the __________.

Accepted Answer

The tongue is responsible for sensory perception and fine motor control, which require a larger cortical representation than the shoulder. The abdomen and fingers also have different levels of cortical representation, but not to the same extent as the tongue and shoulder.

Question 11

The thick bundles of fibers that carry information back and forth between the two hemispheres are called (the) __________.

Accepted Answer

The thick bundles of fibers that carry information back and forth between the two hemispheres are called commisures. The most well-known commisure is the corpus callosum, which connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain. The other options are not correct: the hippocampus is a structure located in the medial temporal lobe involved in memory formation and spatial navigation, the lateral fissures are the grooves that separate the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, and nerves are bundles of fibers that transmit information throughout the body.

Question 12

Typically, the cerebral cortex is divided into three broad types of tissues. Which of the following is NOT one of those types?

Accepted Answer

The three broad types of tissues in the cerebral cortex are sensory area, motor area, and association area. Integration area is not a recognized type of tissue in the cerebral cortex.

Question 13

The brain seems to consist of a large number of separate and specialized modules. There is, in other words, a localization of brain function. At the same time, research also has shown that __________.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that multiple brain areas are often activated for any task we do, indicating that there is also a distributed nature to brain function. While there may be some degree of specialization in certain modules, the brain also relies on interconnected networks for many complex processes. A and B are incorrect because they suggest either too much or too little localization of function.

Question 14

You might expect a disproportionately large portion of the somatosensory area in a pig's cortex to map the pig's __________.

Accepted Answer

Pigs have a well-developed sense of smell and use their snouts extensively to explore their environment and find food. As a result, a large portion of the somatosensory area in a pig's cortex is dedicated to processing information from the snout, including touch and temperature sensations.

Question 15

You might expect a disproportionately large portion of the somatosensory area of a giraffe's cortex to map the giraffe's __________.

Accepted Answer

The somatosensory cortex is a part of the brain that processes sensory information from various parts of the body. In animals like giraffes, areas such as the lips and tongue are highly sensitive and used extensively for feeding and exploring their environment. Therefore, a larger portion of the somatosensory cortex would be dedicated to these parts to process the detailed sensory information they receive.

Question 16

The part of the brain that carries information back and forth between the two hemispheres, thus allowing them to act in an integrated, coordinated fashion, is called the __________.

Accepted Answer

The corpus callosum is a thick bundle of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain and facilitates communication and coordination between them. The other options, medulla, pons, and cerebellum, are all structures located in the brainstem that are involved in various functions such as breathing, heart rate, and motor coordination, but they do not play a role in interhemispheric communication.

Question 17

The nonprimary motor area is critical for __________.

Accepted Answer

The nonprimary motor area, also known as the premotor cortex, is responsible for initiating and coordinating complex skilled movements, such as playing a musical instrument or typing on a keyboard.

Question 18

Let's say person X suffers a stroke and, as a result, is unable to recognize faces. Chances are good that the damage is located __________.

Accepted Answer

Facial recognition is primarily processed in the right hemisphere of the brain. Therefore, damage to this area, such as from a stroke, can result in prosopagnosia, the inability to recognize faces. The corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres and is not directly involved in facial recognition. The amygdala plays a role in emotional processing and memory but is not the primary location for facial recognition. Hemispheric lateralization means that damage to the left hemisphere would more likely affect language and verbal abilities, not facial recognition.

Question 19

Let's say person Y suffers a stroke and, as a result, is unable to speak. Chances are good that the damage is located in the __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Let's say person Y suffers a stroke...

Question 20

Which of the following statements best describes the current scientific view regarding the functioning of our left and right hemispheres?

Accepted Answer

Recent research has shown that the left and right hemispheres of the brain are intricately connected and constantly communicate with each other. Both hemispheres contribute their specialized abilities to every task, and the degree of contribution may vary depending on the nature of the task. Therefore, the current scientific view suggests that the left and right hemispheres work together rather than compete for dominance, and both are important for daily functioning. Choice A is incorrect because it implies a competitive relationship between the hemispheres that is not supported by current research. Choice B is also incorrect because it oversimplifies the roles of the hemispheres and ignores the contributions of the right hemisphere. Choice C is a partial truth, but it oversimplifies the functions of the hemispheres and implies that individuals can be categorized as either analytical or artistic based on hemispheric dominance.

Quiz 3: The Brain and the Nervous System