Question 1

Suzy is having her brain scanned.She is asked to imagine butterflies.The doctor is puzzled because the area of the brain expected to be very active is not.Instead,her frontal lobe is very active.What was Suzy most likely experiencing to cause this unexpected finding?

Accepted Answer

The question asks about why Suzy's frontal lobe is very active when imagining butterflies, which is unexpected. This suggests that Suzy may be engaging in some sort of higher-level cognition, such as planning her party. The other options are not likely to be causing activity in the frontal lobe while imagining butterflies.

Question 2

What neurological change in the brain accounts for some older adults acting inappropriately?

Accepted Answer

Frontal lobe shrinkage is a common neurological change in the aging brain and can lead to a decrease in impulse control and inappropriate behavior.

Question 3

The strip of the cortex in the frontal lobe that is involved in the initiation of all voluntary movements is called:

Accepted Answer

The motor cortex, located in the frontal lobe, is responsible for the initiation and control of voluntary movements. It is organized in a somatotopic (body map) manner, with different areas of the cortex controlling movement of different body parts. The other options listed, somatosensory cortex, sensory homunculus, and Broca's area, are located in different areas of the cortex and are involved in different functions.

Question 4

Well-controlled,long-term studies on frontal lobotomies found:

Accepted Answer

Well-controlled, long-term studies have found mixed results regarding the effectiveness of frontal lobotomies. While some patients showed improvement in their symptoms, others experienced severe drawbacks such as cognitive impairment and personality changes. Therefore, option A is the best choice.

Question 5

Who probably had the first,crude form of a frontal lobotomy?

Accepted Answer

Phineas Gage, a railroad construction foreman, is often cited as having the first, albeit accidental, form of a frontal lobotomy. In 1848, an iron rod was driven through his skull during an explosion, severely damaging his frontal lobes. This incident significantly changed his personality and behavior, providing early evidence of the role of the frontal lobes in personality and cognitive function.

Question 6

The motor cortex is located in the ____ lobe.

Accepted Answer

The motor cortex is located in the frontal lobe, specifically in the precentral gyrus. This area of the brain is responsible for voluntary movement and motor control.

Question 7

Taber is researching his family tree.He is surprised to find out that in the 1940s a distant relative had surgery in which a large portion of the frontal lobe of his cortex was removed.What treatment did Taber's relative receive?

Accepted Answer

The removal of a large portion of the frontal lobe of the cortex is a characteristic of a frontal lobotomy.

Question 8

After a serious blow to the head,Hector underwent a dramatic personality change.A well-organized,extroverted person before the accident,he no longer could plan or adjust to new social situations.Hector would also laugh uncontrollably at inappropriate times.What part of Hector's brain appears to have been damaged?

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobe is responsible for higher-order thinking, planning, personality, and behavior regulation. Damage to this area can result in personality changes and difficulty with social situations. The other options listed (A, B, D) are not directly related to personality and social behavior.

Question 9

The story of Phineas Gage demonstrates that:

Accepted Answer

The story of Phineas Gage, who survived a severe injury to his frontal lobe, led to the discovery that the frontal lobe plays a significant role in emotional regulation and decision-making.

Question 10

How many frontal lobotomies were performed in the 1940s and 1950s?

Accepted Answer

In the 1940s and 1950s, approximately 18,000 frontal lobotomies were performed.

Question 11

Who first used the frontal lobotomy on patients with emotional problems?

Accepted Answer

Egas Moniz, a Portuguese neurologist, is credited with first using the frontal lobotomy on patients with emotional problems in the 1930s. The procedure involves surgically removing parts of the frontal lobes of the brain and was initially believed to be a way to treat severe mental illness. However, the procedure was controversial and eventually fell out of favor due to its dangerous side effects and questionable efficacy.

Question 12

Given the functions of the frontal lobe,it acts as a(n):

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobe is responsible for executive functions such as decision making, problem solving, planning, and controlling behavior which are characteristic of an executive.

Question 13

The unusual drawing of the motor cortex that illustrates how much of the cortex is devoted to various body parts is called the:

Accepted Answer

The unusual drawing of the motor cortex that illustrates how much of the cortex is devoted to various body parts is called the motor homunculus. It is a distorted representation of the body where size of the different body parts corresponds to the amount of cortex dedicated to their motor control.

Question 14

Considering the functions of the frontal lobe,which person in a large company best illustrates those functions?

Accepted Answer

The chief executive officer, Patti, is the best choice as the functions of the frontal lobe include decision-making, problem-solving, planning, and executive functioning. As the CEO of a large company, Patti is responsible for making decisions, planning strategies, and executing plans to achieve the company's goals.

Question 15

Susan has a problem making and carrying out plans.Her doctor has diagnosed her as having a brain tumor.Most likely,Susan's tumor is in her:

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobe is responsible for higher cognitive functions such as planning, decision-making, and problem-solving. A tumor in the frontal lobe could disrupt these functions, causing difficulties with making and carrying out plans.

Question 16

Mr.Aaholm has a tumor in the right motor cortex.What is the most likely symptom he experiences?

Accepted Answer

The motor cortex is involved in planning, controlling, and executing voluntary movements. Since the motor cortex in the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body, a tumor in the right motor cortex would most likely cause disturbances in movement on the left side of the body.

Question 17

A major reason for the decline in the use of frontal lobotomies was that:

Accepted Answer

Antipsychotic drugs were developed that better controlled behavior, leading to a decline in the use of frontal lobotomies. These drugs were seen as a more effective and less invasive treatment option for mental illness. The other options (A, B, and D) are also reasons for the decline in the use of frontal lobotomies, but antipsychotic drugs played a larger role.

Question 18

Based upon your textbook,the cognitive functions of the frontal lobe include all but one of the following.Which one is not among the functions found in the frontal lobe?

Accepted Answer

The processing of tactile information is primarily carried out in the parietal lobe, which is located behind the frontal lobe. The frontal lobe mainly handles executive functions, such as attention, decision-making, and organization.

Question 19

If you wanted to reach with your right hand to grab a pen,where would that message originate in your nervous system?

Accepted Answer

The message to move your right hand originates in the left motor cortex of the brain. This is because the motor cortex controls voluntary movements, and there is a cross-over of nerve pathways in the body, meaning the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and vice versa.

Question 20

Nerves on the ____ cross over and control the movements on the ____ side of the body.

Accepted Answer

Nerves from the left hemisphere of the brain cross over and control movements on the right side of the body, and vice versa. This is known as contralateral control.

Quiz 4: Incredible Nervous System