Question 1

Assuming that cortical development for color perception in the cat is similar to that for line orientation,a cat reared in an environment in which only the color yellow was present would most likely:

Accepted Answer

If cortical development for color perception in the cat is similar to that for line orientation, a cat reared in an environment with only one color present (in this case, yellow) would most likely only be able to experience that color. This is because the neural circuits responsible for processing and perceiving different colors develop in response to exposure to those colors during critical periods in early life. If the cat is only exposed to yellow during this time, the neural circuits for processing other colors may not develop properly, leading to a limited ability to perceive those colors later on.

Question 2

In a blind individual who can read Braille:

Accepted Answer

In a blind individual who can read Braille, the cortical areas responsible for processing tactile information from the index finger may increase due to increased use for reading Braille. This phenomenon is known as cortical reorganization or plasticity. However, there may not be significant changes in cortical areas responsible for the other fingers or in areas responsible for vision or audition.

Question 3

What was the result of blocking Nogo-A in monkeys with surgically induced spinal cord damage?

Accepted Answer

Blocking Nogo-A in monkeys with surgically induced spinal cord damage resulted in monkeys recovering 80% of the use of their paralyzed hand.

Question 4

Embryonic stem cells are said to be ____________,meaning these cells can potentially become any type of body cell.

Accepted Answer

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they have the potential to differentiate into any of the three germ layers - ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm - and give rise to any type of body cell.

Question 5

With hydrocephalus:

Accepted Answer

Hydrocephalus is characterized by the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, which can interfere with brain growth and function.

Question 6

Regeneration is:

Accepted Answer

Regeneration encompasses all the mentioned aspects: the growth of severed axons, its limitation primarily to the peripheral nervous system in mammals, and the continued function of a neuron's cell body after its axon has been severed.

Question 7

The mammalian nervous system:

Accepted Answer

The mammalian nervous system can somewhat repair itself following injury through a process called neuroplasticity, in which the remaining neurons can reorganize their connections to compensate for lost neurons. However, this process has limitations and may not fully restore function.

Question 8

In the mammalian CNS,neural repair may be difficult because:

Accepted Answer

Scar tissue can form after injury or damage in the CNS, and it may block the original pathway for neural connections. This can make neural repair difficult. The other options provided are not accurate, as the adult nervous system does not make too much of a chemical for growth (choice A), immune cells are not essential for neural repair (choice C), and glial cells are in fact present in the CNS and can play a role in neural repair (choice D).

Question 9

Neurogenesis is:

Accepted Answer

Neurogenesis refers to the birth of new neurons, which can be a way for the nervous system to repair itself following damage. This process is most extensive in the hippocampus and areas near the olfactory bulb. Therefore, all of the given options are correct.

Question 10

Compensation for neural damage by reorganization is most likely to be seen with:

Accepted Answer

Language has been shown to have a high potential for reorganization after neural damage. This is because language processing involves multiple regions of the brain, and there is a significant amount of overlap in the neural networks involved in different aspects of language. As a result, if one area of the brain is damaged, other areas can take over to compensate for the deficit. While the other options (B, C, and D) are important cognitive abilities, they are typically associated with more specific regions of the brain and therefore are less likely to be compensated for through reorganization.

Question 11

Compensation in the nervous system is:

Accepted Answer

Compensation in the nervous system refers to the ability of the nervous system to adapt to changes or damage by using uninjured neurons to take on the function of damaged neurons. This can occur through mechanisms such as the formation of new synapses by uninjured neurons. It is not the same as neurogenesis, which refers to the production of new neurons. While it may not always be possible to fully compensate for damage in the nervous system, the ability for compensation to occur has been observed in humans.

Question 12

Physical therapy can be effective following brain injury because:

Accepted Answer

Physical therapy following brain injury focuses on promoting compensation by helping individuals adapt to any physical or functional changes resulting from the injury. It does not directly promote regeneration or neurogenesis.

Question 13

The directional term anterior means:

Accepted Answer

The directional term anterior means in front of, as opposed to the term posterior which means behind.

Question 14

All of the following are true about Christopher Reeve's spinal cord injury and recovery except:

Accepted Answer

Christopher Reeve was never able to achieve unassisted walking. Despite intense therapy, he was wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life.

Question 15

What is the current status of attempting to mend the brain with computer chips?

Accepted Answer

The article stated that a US-Canadian team successfully designed an artificial network on a chip that allowed paralyzed cats to walk again. This indicates that some progress has been made in mending the brain with computer chips. The other options are not completely accurate or do not reflect the current state of research, as there have been some successes in animal trials.

Question 16

Recovery from removal of half the brain is most likely:

Accepted Answer

When the damage begins early in life, the remaining half of the brain may compensate for the loss, and there is a higher chance of recovery compared to damage that begins later in life.

Question 17

Neurogenesis has been noted in what two disorders?

Accepted Answer

Neurogenesis has been noted in both Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, neurogenesis occurs in response to the disease as a compensatory mechanism, whereas in Huntington's disease, neurogenesis occurs in an attempt to repair damaged neurons. Neurogenesis has not been consistently observed in Parkinson's disease.

Question 18

Myelin is important in neural regeneration because:

Accepted Answer

Myelin provides a path for the regenerating neuron to follow. Without myelin, the regenerating neuron would have difficulty finding its target and may not be able to function properly. Non-myelinated neurons can also regenerate, but myelin plays an important role in the process. Growth does not require the removal of all myelin, but rather the regeneration of the axon and the formation of new myelin around it.

Question 19

The cerebral hemispheres are separated by the:

Accepted Answer

The longitudinal fissure separates the two cerebral hemispheres from each other.

Question 20

Emerging new treatments for trauma to the central nervous system include all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

While genetically engineered neurons may be a topic of research in various fields, they have not yet emerged as a specific treatment for trauma to the central nervous system. All of the other options listed have shown promise in promoting nerve regeneration and recovery after injury.

Quiz 3: The Organization and Functions of the Nervous System