Question 1

Which area of the limbic system will become more active, if you mentally plan a drive across town?

Accepted Answer

The hippocampus is responsible for spatial memory and navigation, making it the likely area of the limbic system to become more active when mentally planning a drive across town.

Question 2

A medical student destroys part of a rat's brain so that it later develops a tremendous appetite and continues to eat long after it has acquired ample nutrition.What part of the brain has been damaged?

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus plays a key role in regulating appetite and satiety, and damage to this area can lead to abnormal feeding behaviors such as overeating.

Question 3

The hypothalamus, the hippocampus, the amygdala, and parts of the thalamus make up the __________ system.

Accepted Answer

These structures are known to work in conjunction with one another to regulate emotion, memory, and motivation, which are all part of the limbic system.

Question 4

Two structures that are part of the limbic system are the

Accepted Answer

The amygdala and hippocampus are two structures that are part of the limbic system. The amygdala is involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and aggression, while the hippocampus is involved in learning and memory. The medulla and pons are part of the brainstem, the reticular formation is a network of neurons that spans the brainstem, and the cerebellum is involved in movement control and coordination. The corpus callosum is a bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the brain.

Question 5

Which brain area within the forebrain has a major role in producing emotions and motivating behaviors, including rage, fear, sexual response, and laughter?

Accepted Answer

The limbic system, which includes the amygdala, hippocampus, and other structures, is responsible for producing emotions and motivating behaviors, including rage, fear, sexual response, and laughter.

Question 6

Which part of the limbic system explains why people who suffer from phobias and disabling anxiety often feel afraid without knowing why?

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is responsible for processing emotions, particularly fear and anxiety. It can be activated in response to a perceived threat even if the individual is not consciously aware of the source of the fear, leading to physiological symptoms of anxiety without a clear trigger.

Question 7

Which part of the brain lies within the temporal lobes and produces memory-like or dream-like experiences when the temporal lobes are stimulated?

Accepted Answer

The hippocampus is the part of the brain that lies within the temporal lobes and is responsible for producing memory-like or dream-like experiences when stimulated. The amygdala is also located in the temporal lobes, but it is more commonly associated with emotional processing. The thalamus is a central relay station for sensory information, and the pons is located in the brainstem and is involved in regulating basic bodily functions.

Question 8

Damage to which part of the limbic system would most likely impair memory?

Accepted Answer

The hippocampus is a key structure for the formation and consolidation of memories, especially episodic memories. Damage to the hippocampus can impair the ability to form new memories as well as retrieve old ones.

Question 9

Regarding the hippocampus, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Although the hippocampus is involved in processing fearful stimuli and can contribute to fear responses, it is not solely responsible for telling us when to fear dangerous stimuli. Other brain regions, such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, also play important roles in processing and responding to fearful stimuli.

Question 10

Which part of the forebrain is basically a "crossroads" that connects many areas of the brain and is the last place where many behaviors are organized or "decided on" before these messages leave the brain and cause the body to react?

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is referred to as the "crossroads" of the brain because it connects many areas of the brain and is responsible for regulating many important behaviors and physiological processes such as hunger, thirst, sexual behavior, and stress responses. It receives input from other areas of the brain and is the last place where many behaviors are organized or "decided on" before they are carried out by the body.

Question 11

Megan suffers from a phobia of kittens and cats.Even though she consciously understands that she does not have to be afraid of such small creatures, she still exhibits nervousness as she watches her daughter petting a neighbor's gentle cat.Which part of the limbic system causes this fear response that Megan does not understand?

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is a part of the limbic system that plays a key role in processing and regulating emotions such as fear, anxiety, and aggression. It is responsible for triggering the fear response in situations where there is no immediate danger, such as Megan's phobia of kittens and cats.

Question 12

You are walking down a dark alley with several packages.Behind you, you hear a door open and close suddenly, and you immediately dive behind the nearest trash container.The part of the forebrain mainly responsible for your reaction is the

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is responsible for the processing and regulation of emotions, specifically fear and anxiety responses. In this scenario, the sudden noise and potential threat trigger a fear response, causing the person to react quickly and seek shelter. The hippocampus is responsible for memory formation, the medulla for regulating vital functions like breathing and heart rate, and the cerebrum is responsible for higher cognitive functions like thinking and decision-making, which may come into play in planning an escape route after the initial reaction.

Question 13

Which part of the brain stores lasting verbal memories and helps us navigate through space?

Accepted Answer

The hippocampus is responsible for storing lasting verbal memories and helping us navigate through space. It is part of the limbic system and plays a crucial role in learning and memory.

Question 14

The limbic system includes the

Accepted Answer

The limbic system includes the hypothalamus, which regulates basic drives such as hunger and thirst, the amygdala which is important for emotional processing, the hippocampus which is important for memory formation, and parts of the thalamus which is important for sensory processing.

Question 15

A researcher places an electrode in a cat's limbic system, which he activates.The cat suddenly jumps up and runs to the corner, showing clear indications of fear.What part of the limbic system was most likely stimulated?

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is responsible for processing emotions, including fear. Stimulation of the amygdala can therefore result in fear responses.

Question 16

Which part of the limbic system provides a primitive "quick pathway" to the cortex when we are startled, so that we are able to react to dangerous stimuli before we fully know what is going on?

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is the part of the limbic system that provides a primitive "quick pathway" to the cortex when we are startled, so that we are able to react to dangerous stimuli before we fully know what is going on. The hippocampus plays a role in memory and spatial navigation, the hypothalamus controls many of the body's automatic functions such as hunger and thirst, and the thalamus acts as a relay station for sensory information.

Question 17

The limbic system is responsible for

Accepted Answer

The limbic system is involved in the regulation of emotions, including rage, fear, sex drive, and laughter.

Question 18

In situations in which true danger exists, such as in military combat, the rapid response of which part of the limbic system may aid survival?

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is responsible for the rapid processing of emotional information, including fear responses, and can aid in survival during situations of true danger such as in military combat.

Question 19

Unconscious fear produced by which part of the brain seems to explain why people who survive horrible experiences, such as a plane crash or combat during war, can have debilitating fears years later?

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is responsible for emotional processing, including fear, and can create unconscious associations between certain stimuli and a traumatic experience. This can result in debilitating fears, such as in individuals who have survived traumatic events like plane crashes or combat during war.

Question 20

Which brain area was the earliest layer of the forebrain to develop during evolution and helps organize basic survival responses in lower animals, such as feeding, fleeing, fighting, and reproduction?

Accepted Answer

The limbic system is the earliest layer of the forebrain to develop during evolution, and is responsible for organizing basic survival responses in lower animals, such as feeding, fleeing, fighting, and reproduction. The other choices listed are not the earliest layer of the forebrain to develop, nor are they primarily responsible for organizing basic survival responses. The somatosensory cortex is responsible for processing touch sensation, the endocrine system is responsible for hormone regulation, and the reticular activating system is responsible for regulating wakefulness and arousal.

Quiz 2: Brain and Behavior.