Question 1

The disrupting activity in the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (LMAN) region when a bird hears another bird's song for the first time _____ song learning.
A) enhances
B) impairs
C) prevents
D) has no effect on

Accepted Answer

Disrupting activity in the LMAN region impairs song learning because this area is crucial for the modification and learning of vocalizations in birds.

Question 2

Neurons in _____ respond when a bird hears a song and when it produces the song.
A) the high vocal center (HVC) and the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA)
B) Area X
C) the basal ganglia
D) the frontal cortex

Accepted Answer

The high vocal center (HVC) and the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA) are involved in both the perception and production of song in birds, making them key areas for song learning and production.

Question 3

Studies of social transmission of food preferences in rats have shown that hippocampal lesions result in:
A) anterograde amnesia but not retrograde amnesia.
B) anterograde amnesia and retrograde amnesia.
C) retrograde amnesia that is worse for older memories than for newly acquired memories.
D) retrograde amnesia that is worse for newly acquired memories than for older memories.

Accepted Answer

Hippocampal lesions in rats lead to retrograde amnesia that is more severe for newly acquired memories than for older ones, as the hippocampus is crucial for the consolidation of new memories.

Question 4

Researchers hypothesized that mirror neurons provide a basic mechanism for simple _____, allowing researchers to directly examine the mechanisms better.
A) conditioning
B) association
C) emulation
D) imitation

Accepted Answer

Mirror neurons are believed to be involved in imitation, as they fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe someone else performing the same action.

Question 5

A set of disorders characterized with deficits in social interaction and learning are known as:
A) learning disorders.
B) autism spectrum disorders.
C) social disorders.
D) anxiety disorders.

Accepted Answer

Autism spectrum disorders are characterized by deficits in social interaction, communication, and by restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. These symptoms are present from early childhood and affect daily functioning.

Question 6

Studies of social transmission of food preferences in rats have shown that damage to the neurons in the:
A) basal forebrain that modulate hippocampal activity disrupts their future ability to learn about novel foods from other rats.
B) basal forebrain that modulate hippocampal activity disrupts previously-acquired food preferences.
C) hippocampus that modulate cortical activity disrupts their future ability to learn about novel foods from other rats.
D) hippocampus that modulate cortical activity disrupts previously acquired food preferences.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Studies of social transmission of food preferences...

Question 7

Since individuals with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty imitating only certain actions, that deficit can be related to _____ function in a subset of mirror neurons, rather than to a general dysfunction of the _____ neural circuits involved in imitation.
A) lateral; prefrontal
B) abnormal; cortical
C) cortical; abnormal
D) prefrontal; lateral

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is B) abnormal; cortical. This is because the statement refers to a specific dysfunction in the function of a subset of mirror neurons, which are neurons in the brain that are active both when an individual acts and when the individual observes the same action performed by another. This dysfunction is not generalized across all neural circuits involved in imitation but is specific to the cortical areas where mirror neurons are located, hence "abnormal function in a subset of mirror neurons" and "cortical neural circuits involved in imitation."

Question 8

Repetition of words or phrases immediately after hearing them spoken is known as:
A) echolalia.
B) emotional contagion.
C) emulation.
D) observational conditioning.

Accepted Answer

Echolalia is the automatic repetition of vocalizations made by another person. It is often seen in individuals with autism, Tourette syndrome, and certain other conditions, where they immediately repeat words or phrases that they hear.

Question 9

The areas of the brain that become active during both the observation and performance of actions are located in what region of the brain in both humans and monkeys?
A) the lower regions
B) the lateral region
C) the occipital lobe
D) the cortical regions

Accepted Answer

The cortical regions, specifically the mirror neuron system located in parts of the frontal and parietal lobes, become active during both the observation and performance of actions in both humans and monkeys. This system is crucial for understanding others' actions, intentions, and learning through imitation.

Question 10

Which characteristic is a symptom of autism?
A) reduced intellectual abilities
B) normal social skills
C) normal behavior patterns
D) the need for highly consistent routines

Accepted Answer

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by a range of symptoms, one of which includes a strong preference for highly consistent routines. This need for sameness and resistance to change is a common feature among individuals with autism.

Question 11

Which statement is TRUE regarding the brains of individuals with autism?
A) They show more overall activity-related circulation of blood within the temporal lobes.
B) Cortical activation patterns are normal.
C) Their hippocampus is normal in size.
D) Many brain areas are abnormal in size.

Accepted Answer

Individuals with autism often have abnormalities in various brain areas, including differences in size, which can affect their cognitive and social functions. This is supported by numerous studies showing structural differences in the brains of people with autism compared to typically developing individuals.

Question 12

When observer rats were exposed to a novel food odor on a demonstrator rat's breath and then had their hippocampus lesioned, what happened to the lesioned rats' preferences for the novel food?
A) Their preference was reduced the most if the lesion occurred 30 days after their being exposed to the odor.
B) Their preference was reduced the most if the lesion occurred one day after their being exposed to the odor.
C) Their preference was enhanced the most if the lesion occurred 30 days after their being exposed to the odor.
D) Their preference was enhanced the most if the lesion occurred one day after their being exposed to the odor.

Accepted Answer

Lesions in the hippocampus disrupt the memory processes, and since the hippocampus is crucial for forming new memories, a lesion one day after exposure would most significantly impair the rat's ability to remember and thus reduce its preference for the novel food. This is because the memory of the novel food would not have been consolidated fully, making it more susceptible to disruption.

Question 13

Children with autism:
A) have reduced intellectual abilities.
B) have more trouble imitating individual actions than sequences of actions.
C) cannot recognize when they are being imitated.
D) show more impairment of meaningless gestures than meaningful ones.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Children with autism:
A) have reduced intellectual abilities.
B)...

Question 14

_____ neurons respond during both performance of an action and during visual observations of that same action.
A) Template
B) Mirror
C) Echolalia
D) Modeling

Accepted Answer

Mirror neurons are responsible for this phenomenon, activating both when an individual performs an action and when they observe someone else performing the same action.

Question 15

Which statement is TRUE regarding mirror neurons?
A) The most common type is those that respond to actions involving the legs and feet.
B) They provide the neural links needed for imitation but not emulation.
C) They respond to the observation of an action performed by a model but not to the performance of the action by the observer.
D) Some respond most strongly to observation of the outcome, rather than the specific action.

Accepted Answer

Mirror neurons can respond to the observation of the outcome of an action, indicating their role in understanding the intention behind actions.

Question 16

Children with autism:
A) cannot recognize when they are being imitated.
B) show more impairment of meaningful gestures than meaningless ones.
C) have problems with perspective taking.
D) have more trouble imitating individual actions than sequences of actions.

Accepted Answer

Children with autism often have difficulties with perspective taking, which is the ability to understand and interpret others' viewpoints, intentions, and emotions. This is a core challenge in autism spectrum disorders, affecting social interactions and communication.

Question 17

According to the _____ hypothesis memories for perceived actions are stored in the cortical regions that map observed actions onto the motor representations of those actions.
A) template
B) visual
C) direct-matching
D) stimulus-matching

Accepted Answer

The correct hypothesis is the "direct-matching" hypothesis, which suggests that memories for actions we observe are stored in the same cortical regions that are involved in the execution of those actions, effectively mapping observed actions onto our own motor representations.

Question 18

In humans:
A) there is an overlap between the cortical regions activated by performance of an action and by observing that action being performed.
B) researchers have been able to record directly from mirror neurons in the cortex.
C) cortical regions associated with mirror neurons are different from those in monkeys.
D) researchers have had difficulty in locating any brain regions that behave as if they contain mirror neurons.

Accepted Answer

Mirror neurons are a type of brain cell that respond equally when we perform an action and when we witness someone else perform the same action. This overlap occurs in specific cortical regions, supporting the idea that these neurons play a role in understanding others' actions, empathy, and learning by imitation.

Question 19

In songbirds, what part or parts of the brain control the production of songs?
A) Area X
B) the high vocal center (HVC) and the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA)
C) the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (LMAN)
D) the frontal cortex

Accepted Answer

The high vocal center (HVC) and the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA) are key parts of the brain in songbirds that control the production of songs. These areas are involved in the learning and production of complex vocalizations.

Question 20

_____ suggests that children with autism have problems with perspective taking that prevent them from imagining themselves in someone else's shoes.
A) Social learning
B) Theory of social awareness
C) Mind-blindness theory
D) Two-action theory

Accepted Answer

Mind-blindness theory suggests that individuals with autism have difficulty understanding that other people have their own thoughts, feelings, and intentions, which makes it challenging for them to imagine themselves in someone else's situation or perspective.

Quiz 11: Social Learning and Memory: Observing, Interacting, and Reenacting

The disrupting activity in the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (LMAN) region when a bird hears another bird's song for the first time _____ song learning.

Neurons in _____ respond when a bird hears a song and when it produces the song.

Studies of social transmission of food preferences in rats have shown that hippocampal lesions result in:

Researchers hypothesized that mirror neurons provide a basic mechanism for simple _____, allowing researchers to directly examine the mechanisms better.

A set of disorders characterized with deficits in social interaction and learning are known as:

Studies of social transmission of food preferences in rats have shown that damage to the neurons in the:

Since individuals with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty imitating only certain actions, that deficit can be related to _ function in a subset of mirror neurons, rather than to a general dysfunction of the _ neural circuits involved in imitation.

Repetition of words or phrases immediately after hearing them spoken is known as:

The areas of the brain that become active during both the observation and performance of actions are located in what region of the brain in both humans and monkeys?

Which characteristic is a symptom of autism?

Which statement is TRUE regarding the brains of individuals with autism?

When observer rats were exposed to a novel food odor on a demonstrator rat's breath and then had their hippocampus lesioned, what happened to the lesioned rats' preferences for the novel food?

Children with autism:

_____ neurons respond during both performance of an action and during visual observations of that same action.

Which statement is TRUE regarding mirror neurons?

Children with autism:

According to the _____ hypothesis memories for perceived actions are stored in the cortical regions that map observed actions onto the motor representations of those actions.

In humans:

In songbirds, what part or parts of the brain control the production of songs?

_____ suggests that children with autism have problems with perspective taking that prevent them from imagining themselves in someone else's shoes.