Question 1

Jerod was in an automobile accident and can no longer control his own heart rate or breathing. Jerod most likely has damage to his ____.​

Accepted Answer

The medulla oblongata is responsible for controlling and regulating vital autonomic functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Damage to this area of the brain can result in the loss of control over these functions, as seen in Jerod's case.

Question 2

When Cade was tackled during a football game, he hit the back of his head on the turf, which results in a concussion. Cade now has trouble with his vision. Cade has most likely injured his ____ lobe.​

Accepted Answer

The occipital lobe is responsible for vision processing, so a concussion that causes visual problems would most likely involve the occipital lobe.

Question 3

The human brain appears extremely wrinkled when closely examined. These folds ____.​

Accepted Answer

The folds in the brain (called gyri) allow for a greater surface area of cortex (the outermost layer of the brain) to be included in the skull. This increased surface area allows for more neurons and synaptic connections, ultimately leading to enhanced cognitive abilities.

Question 4

One moment Sharese is happy, the next moment she is sad. First she is angry, and then she is disgusted. There is probably something wrong with Sharese's ____. ​

Accepted Answer

The limbic system is responsible for regulating emotions, and if Sharese is experiencing rapid and extreme mood swings, there may be an issue with her limbic system. The corpus callosum is responsible for communication between the two hemispheres of the brain, the medulla oblongata is responsible for regulating autonomic functions like breathing and heart rate, and the reticular formation is responsible for sleep and arousal. While all of these brain structures can be impacted by various factors, none of them specifically relate to emotion regulation like the limbic system.

Question 5

Bobby, Peter, and Greg are working outside on their bikes when their father, Mike, accidentally slips on some axle grease and pulled the trigger of the nail gun he is carrying several times as he is falling. All four survive, but Bobby's hippocampus, Peter's amygdala, Greg's striatum, and Mike's hypothalamus are destroyed. Who will no longer be able to dance?​

Accepted Answer

Greg's striatum is destroyed, and the striatum is involved in the coordination of movement, including the planning and modulation of motor activity. Damage to this area would impair his ability to perform coordinated movements such as dancing.

Question 6

After an accident, Stella is left with brain damage. Now Stella has trouble judging the emotions of others, even when she can see their facial expressions. Stella has most likely damaged her ____. ​

Accepted Answer

The amygdala plays a role in emotional processing and regulation, particularly in relation to fear and aggression. Damage to the amygdala can result in difficulties reading and interpreting the emotions of others, even when the facial expressions are present.

Question 7

Suppose that you have just been abducted by aliens from the planet Zeebo. The Zeeboians are very interested in life on Earth, and one of them asks you how humans are different from other species. In terms of brain anatomy, which structure would you say best differentiates humans from the so-called lower species?​

Accepted Answer

The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain and is responsible for higher brain functions such as consciousness, thought, memory, and language. It is significantly larger and more complex in humans than in other animals, which is believed to be a major factor in our cognitive abilities and intelligence.

Question 8

During a recent study session, your friend asks you to explain what the locus coeruleus does. You explain the locus coeruleus is part of the hindbrain responsible for ____.​

Accepted Answer

The locus coeruleus is responsible for directing attention.

Question 9

While playing with their new "Do-It-YourselfHomeBrain-SurgeryKit," which recently washed ashore, Skipper and the Professor stimulate an area of the cortex in Gilligan's temporal lobe. Gilligan will most likely report a conscious experience of ____.​

Accepted Answer

Stimulation of the temporal lobe can result in auditory hallucinations, so Gilligan may report hearing voices. None of the other options are typically associated with temporal lobe stimulation.

Question 10

After an evil scientist destroys part of Patrick's brain, Patrick finds that he is constantly hungry and he eats much more than before. The scientist has likely destroyed Patrick's ____.​

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus plays a vital role in regulating hunger and satiety. Damage to this area can result in hyperphagia, or excessive hunger, which is consistent with Patrick's increased appetite. The other areas listed may be implicated in various functions such as emotional regulation (amygdala), sensory processing (thalamus), or memory consolidation (hippocampus), but are not directly involved in regulating hunger.

Question 11

After a freak accident involving a falling piano, Dr. Diart informs you that you have sustained damage to your limbic system. Which function will be most affected?​

Accepted Answer

The limbic system is responsible for regulating emotions, so damage to this area would likely affect a person's emotional responses and regulation. Vision, intelligence, and perception are controlled by other areas of the brain.

Question 12

When a balloon pops near Tyler's head, the circuits in his ____ cause him to reflexively turn his head toward the source of the startling noise.​

Accepted Answer

The midbrain is responsible for reflexive movements like turning the head towards a sudden sound or movement. The hindbrain is responsible for basic life-sustaining functions like breathing and heart rate, the forebrain is responsible for higher cognitive functions like decision making and language, and there is no such thing as a lateral brain.

Question 13

Andre was in a terrible car accident and had a serious head injury. As a result, he is now in a permanent coma. Andre most likely has damage to his ____.​

Accepted Answer

The reticular formation is responsible for regulating arousal and consciousness, so damage to this area could result in a coma. Damage to the cerebellum would affect balance and coordination, but would not necessarily result in a coma. Damage to the hypothalamus would affect basic bodily functions like sleep and hunger, but would not necessarily result in a coma. Damage to the corpus callosum would affect communication between the two hemispheres of the brain, but would not necessarily result in a coma.

Question 14

Bert and Ernie have very different sleeping patterns. Bert always wakes up early in the morning, but he starts to get tired early in the evening. Ernie, on the other hand, prefers to stay up late and then sleep until noon. Bert and Ernie's different sleeping preferences are most likely due to their ____.​

Accepted Answer

The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) are responsible for regulating our circadian rhythm, our internal biological clock that controls sleep and wakefulness. Individual differences in sleep patterns can be attributed to differences in the SCN.

Question 15

In the middle school play of "Braintastic," Joss plays the part of one of the forebrain structures. During her lines, she says, "I am like a relay station. I send signals from the senses to higher levels of the brain to make sense of the information." Joss is playing the part of the ____.​

Accepted Answer

Joss describes her character as a relay station that sends signals from the senses to higher levels of the brain. This is a description of the thalamus, which is known to relay sensory information to the cortex for further processing. The other options, cerebellum, striatum, and hippocampus, do not fit this description.

Question 16

After a freak boating accident, Arlo's hippocampus is lost at sea. Although he has recovered in all other respects, Arlo will have difficulty ____.​

Accepted Answer

The hippocampus plays a crucial role in the formation of new memories. Without it, Arlo will have difficulty creating and storing new memories of events that occur after the accident.

Question 17

You are a morning person who loves to get up early and enjoy the new day. Your roommate is a night person who only begins to wake up in the early afternoon. The part of the brain that regulates each of your biological clocks is the ____.​

Accepted Answer

The suprachiasmatic nucleus regulates the circadian rhythms of the body and is located in the hypothalamus of the brain. This nucleus receives information about light and darkness from the eyes and helps to synchronize our biological clocks with the external environment. This is why our sleep-wake cycles are influenced by daylight and darkness. As a morning person and night person, your internal clocks are likely out of sync and your sleep patterns may be affected as a result.

Question 18

After consuming a few alcoholic beverages, Sejal finds it hard to tie her shoes. This is most likely because the alcohol has affected her ____.​

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is responsible for motor coordination and balance. Alcohol consumption can impair the functioning of the cerebellum, leading to difficulties with tasks that require coordination such as tying shoes.

Question 19

Trisha is gradually developing an impairment in her ability to perform finely coordinated movements, such as cutting a clove of garlic into very small pieces. Doctors will probably discover a problem in her ____.​

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is responsible for fine motor coordination and movement control, so an impairment in these abilities would likely indicate a problem in this brain region.

Question 20

Recent animal studies have shown that removal of the hippocampus several days after a mildly painful experience will not erase the memory of the experience. This evidence suggests that ____.​

Accepted Answer

The fact that the memory of a mildly painful experience persists even after several days of the hippocampus removal suggests that memories are transferred and stored somewhere else in the brain other than the hippocampus. This implies that the hippocampus may be primarily responsible for creating new memories rather than storing them.

Quiz 3: Biological Aspects of Psychology

Jerod was in an automobile accident and can no longer control his own heart rate or breathing. Jerod most likely has damage to his ____.​

When Cade was tackled during a football game, he hit the back of his head on the turf, which results in a concussion. Cade now has trouble with his vision. Cade has most likely injured his ____ lobe.​

The human brain appears extremely wrinkled when closely examined. These folds ____.​

One moment Sharese is happy, the next moment she is sad. First she is angry, and then she is disgusted. There is probably something wrong with Sharese's ____. ​

After an accident, Stella is left with brain damage. Now Stella has trouble judging the emotions of others, even when she can see their facial expressions. Stella has most likely damaged her ____. ​

During a recent study session, your friend asks you to explain what the locus coeruleus does. You explain the locus coeruleus is part of the hindbrain responsible for ____.​

While playing with their new "Do-It-YourselfHomeBrain-SurgeryKit," which recently washed ashore, Skipper and the Professor stimulate an area of the cortex in Gilligan's temporal lobe. Gilligan will most likely report a conscious experience of ____.​

After an evil scientist destroys part of Patrick's brain, Patrick finds that he is constantly hungry and he eats much more than before. The scientist has likely destroyed Patrick's ____.​

After a freak accident involving a falling piano, Dr. Diart informs you that you have sustained damage to your limbic system. Which function will be most affected?​

When a balloon pops near Tyler's head, the circuits in his ____ cause him to reflexively turn his head toward the source of the startling noise.​

Andre was in a terrible car accident and had a serious head injury. As a result, he is now in a permanent coma. Andre most likely has damage to his ____.​

In the middle school play of "Braintastic," Joss plays the part of one of the forebrain structures. During her lines, she says, "I am like a relay station. I send signals from the senses to higher levels of the brain to make sense of the information." Joss is playing the part of the ____.​

After a freak boating accident, Arlo's hippocampus is lost at sea. Although he has recovered in all other respects, Arlo will have difficulty ____.​

You are a morning person who loves to get up early and enjoy the new day. Your roommate is a night person who only begins to wake up in the early afternoon. The part of the brain that regulates each of your biological clocks is the ____.​

After consuming a few alcoholic beverages, Sejal finds it hard to tie her shoes. This is most likely because the alcohol has affected her ____.​

Trisha is gradually developing an impairment in her ability to perform finely coordinated movements, such as cutting a clove of garlic into very small pieces. Doctors will probably discover a problem in her ____.​

Recent animal studies have shown that removal of the hippocampus several days after a mildly painful experience will not erase the memory of the experience. This evidence suggests that ____.​

Jerod was in an automobile accident and can no longer control his own heart rate or breathing. Jerod most likely has damage to his ____.

When Cade was tackled during a football game, he hit the back of his head on the turf, which results in a concussion. Cade now has trouble with his vision. Cade has most likely injured his ____ lobe.

The human brain appears extremely wrinkled when closely examined. These folds ____.

One moment Sharese is happy, the next moment she is sad. First she is angry, and then she is disgusted. There is probably something wrong with Sharese's ____.

After an accident, Stella is left with brain damage. Now Stella has trouble judging the emotions of others, even when she can see their facial expressions. Stella has most likely damaged her ____.

During a recent study session, your friend asks you to explain what the locus coeruleus does. You explain the locus coeruleus is part of the hindbrain responsible for ____.

While playing with their new "Do-It-YourselfHomeBrain-SurgeryKit," which recently washed ashore, Skipper and the Professor stimulate an area of the cortex in Gilligan's temporal lobe. Gilligan will most likely report a conscious experience of ____.

After an evil scientist destroys part of Patrick's brain, Patrick finds that he is constantly hungry and he eats much more than before. The scientist has likely destroyed Patrick's ____.

After a freak accident involving a falling piano, Dr. Diart informs you that you have sustained damage to your limbic system. Which function will be most affected?

When a balloon pops near Tyler's head, the circuits in his ____ cause him to reflexively turn his head toward the source of the startling noise.

Andre was in a terrible car accident and had a serious head injury. As a result, he is now in a permanent coma. Andre most likely has damage to his ____.

In the middle school play of "Braintastic," Joss plays the part of one of the forebrain structures. During her lines, she says, "I am like a relay station. I send signals from the senses to higher levels of the brain to make sense of the information." Joss is playing the part of the ____.

After a freak boating accident, Arlo's hippocampus is lost at sea. Although he has recovered in all other respects, Arlo will have difficulty ____.

You are a morning person who loves to get up early and enjoy the new day. Your roommate is a night person who only begins to wake up in the early afternoon. The part of the brain that regulates each of your biological clocks is the ____.

After consuming a few alcoholic beverages, Sejal finds it hard to tie her shoes. This is most likely because the alcohol has affected her ____.

Trisha is gradually developing an impairment in her ability to perform finely coordinated movements, such as cutting a clove of garlic into very small pieces. Doctors will probably discover a problem in her ____.

Recent animal studies have shown that removal of the hippocampus several days after a mildly painful experience will not erase the memory of the experience. This evidence suggests that ____.