Question 1

The research strategy of linking specific structures in the brain with specific psychological or behavioral functions is known as

Accepted Answer

Localization of function is the concept that different areas of the brain are responsible for specific behaviors, processes, or functions. This research strategy involves identifying which parts of the brain are involved in particular cognitive processes or behaviors.

Question 2

Any device, such as a wire, needle, or metal plate, used to electrically stimulate or destroy nerve tissue or to record its activity is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

An electrode is a device used to electrically stimulate or destroy nerve tissue or to record its activity, commonly used in medical and research settings.

Question 3

Max, a seventy-year-old man, has recently been exhibiting a somewhat awkward gait and poor eye-hand coordination as well as slight changes to his personality. His family encourages him to see a doctor, who determines that Max has had a slight stroke. Max's family had observed

Accepted Answer

Neurological soft signs are subtle indicators of neurological dysfunction, such as changes in coordination, reflexes, or motor performance, which can be observed in individuals who have had a stroke or other neurological conditions. Max's symptoms of an awkward gait, poor eye-hand coordination, and personality changes are consistent with neurological soft signs, indicating a potential underlying neurological issue, such as the stroke diagnosed by his doctor.

Question 4

When a researcher tries to identify which structures in the brain control specific psychological or behavioral functions, such as recognizing faces or moving the hands, the basic research strategy is called

Accepted Answer

Localization of function refers to the concept that specific parts of the brain are responsible for specific functions or behaviors, which is exactly what the researcher is trying to identify in this scenario.

Question 5

If damage to a particular part of the brain consistently leads to a particular loss of function, then we say that the function is

Accepted Answer

When damage to a specific part of the brain consistently results in a specific loss of function, it is said that the function is "localized" in that structure. This means that the particular function is primarily controlled or managed by that specific area of the brain.

Question 6

A doctor activates the surface of a patient's brain by touching it with a small electrified wire and the patient tells the doctor what effect the stimulation had. Regarding this procedure, which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

The doctor is using an electrode to stimulate specific areas of the brain, a technique that allows for mapping of brain functions while the patient is awake. This is a common practice in neurosurgery to ensure critical areas of the brain are not damaged.

Question 7

A psychiatrist does a lengthy and thorough examination of a patient in a hospital. This patient was the victim of a car accident, in which a pen that was lying on the dashboard actually pierced her skull and her brain. The psychiatrist performs physical examinations, interviews with the patient and family members, and closely observes her behavior. This technique is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A case study is an in-depth examination of an individual or group, including various data collection methods such as interviews, observations, and physical examinations, which is what the psychiatrist is conducting.

Question 8

Dr. Amad is a psychologist who is studying how parts of the brain control particular mental or behavioral functions, such as being able to recognize faces, speak, problem-solve, or move one's hands or feet. Dr. Amad would be referred to as a

Accepted Answer

Dr. Amad would be referred to as a biopsychologist because this field focuses on the biological underpinnings of behavior, including how brain structures and functions relate to behavior and mental processes.

Question 9

A detailed investigation of a single person, especially one suffering from some injury or disease, is known as a natural clinical test, or a(n)

Accepted Answer

A case study is a research method involving an up-close, in-depth, and detailed examination of a subject of study (the case), as well as its related contextual conditions. In the context of psychology or medicine, it often involves a detailed investigation of a single person, especially one suffering from some injury or disease, to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomena related to the individual.

Question 10

Which of the following are not direct tests of the brain, but are subtle outward behavioral signs of nervous system dysfunction that have been used to diagnose problems ranging from childhood learning disorders to psychosis?

Accepted Answer

Neurological soft signs are subtle non-specific neurological signs indicative of nonspecific brain dysfunction. They are not direct tests of the brain but can suggest abnormalities in neural function. These signs can be used in the diagnosis of various neurological and psychiatric conditions, including learning disorders and psychosis. Confabulations, neural inductions, and brain embolisms are not considered subtle outward behavioral signs used in this context.

Question 11

Regarding the use of brain stimulation research, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB) can indeed be used to elicit or influence behaviors such as eating, sleeping, or speech in a person. This technique has been utilized in various research and medical procedures to understand and map brain functions.

Question 12

Jessie is a psychologist who specializes in how a person's biological processes, brain, and nervous system are related to behavior. Jessie would be referred to as a

Accepted Answer

Jessie would be referred to as a biopsychologist because this field specifically focuses on how biological processes, including those of the brain and nervous system, influence behavior.

Question 13

Jacob suspects he may have had a stroke because he is having some difficulty in controlling his right hand and feels numbness on the right side of his face. This behavioral evidence of possible brain damage is called

Accepted Answer

Neurological soft signs are subtle indicators of non-specific brain dysfunction, which can include difficulties in motor coordination or sensory perception, such as the difficulty in controlling a hand or numbness in the face that Jacob is experiencing. Spatial neglect, neurogenesis, and virilism do not describe these symptoms. Spatial neglect is a condition following brain damage in which the patient ignores one side of space, neurogenesis is the process of generating new neurons, and virilism refers to the development of male physical characteristics in females or prematurely in boys.

Question 14

The symptoms of memory loss, trouble spelling words, depression, and moodiness exhibited by Dave Duerson and other NFL football players who had suffered concussions would be considered

Accepted Answer

These symptoms are indicative of neurological soft signs, which are subtle indicators of brain dysfunction often seen in individuals who have experienced concussions or other forms of brain injury, such as those sustained in contact sports like football.

Question 15

Ray awoke one morning to find that he could not see anything in the upper right side of his visual field, his right eye and the right side of his mouth looked different in the mirror, his gait when walking was a bit awkward, and he felt generally "clumsy." Ray is exhibiting

Accepted Answer

Ray's symptoms are indicative of a stroke, which can cause sudden neurological deficits such as partial vision loss, facial drooping, and coordination problems. These are considered hard neurological signs rather than soft signs or symptoms of other conditions like spatial neglect, facial agnosia, or Alzheimer's disease.

Question 16

After Phineas Gage's accident in which a metal rod entered his brain, the doctors kept notes on his behavior, used tests to measure various responses, and interviewed Phineas and those who knew him. His brain injury was studied using a(n)

Accepted Answer

The approach used to study Phineas Gage's brain injury involved detailed observation, interviews, and tests specific to his unique circumstances, which is characteristic of a case study methodology.

Question 17

Scientists implanted an electrode into a specific area of a rat's brain. When the electrode was activated, which in turn activated the target area, the rat aggressively attacked a cat within the same cage. The technique being utilized by the scientists is known as

Accepted Answer

The technique used by the scientists is known as Electrical Stimulation of the Brain (ESB), where electrodes are used to stimulate specific parts of the brain.

Question 18

Studies that examine changes in personality, behavior, or sensory capacity caused by brain diseases or injuries and help doctors to localize function by linking psychological or behavioral capacities with particular brain structures are known as

Accepted Answer

Case studies involve in-depth examinations of individuals with brain diseases or injuries, helping to link specific brain structures with psychological or behavioral functions.

Question 19

The use of an electrode to stimulate small areas of the brain beneath the surface is called

Accepted Answer

Electrical Stimulation of the Brain (ESB) involves using an electrode to stimulate specific areas of the brain, often to map functions or to treat certain neurological conditions.

Question 20

Many techniques have been developed to help identify brain structures and the functions they control. These research techniques are part of the basic research strategy known as

Accepted Answer

Localization of function refers to the concept that different areas of the brain are responsible for specific functions. This is a fundamental principle in neuroscience and psychology, guiding research aimed at identifying which brain structures control various functions.

Quiz 2: Brain and Behavior