Question 1

If you sent the word "banana" to the left hemisphere and the word "cucumber" to the right hemisphere in a patient with a severed corpus callosum,which of the following would the patient be able to name verbally

Accepted Answer

When the corpus callosum is severed, the two hemispheres of the brain are unable to communicate with each other. In this scenario, the word "banana" would be sent to the left hemisphere, which is responsible for language processing in most people. Therefore, the patient would be able to name the banana verbally. However, the word "cucumber" would be sent to the right hemisphere, which is not typically involved in language processing. As a result, the patient would not be able to name the cucumber verbally.

Question 2

Zeke has no problem understanding what other people say to him,but he has difficulty producing spoken language.If Zeke's problem stems from damage to the cerebral cortex,where do you expect the damage to be

Accepted Answer

Damage to the left frontal lobe is associated with difficulty producing spoken language, which is known as expressive language or Broca's aphasia. This area of the brain is responsible for controlling the muscles involved in speech production. Damage to the right frontal lobe may affect nonverbal communication or understanding of tone and emotion in speech, but it is not typically associated with difficulty producing spoken language. The parietal lobes are more involved in sensory processing and spatial awareness, so damage to these areas would not necessarily impact speech production directly.

Question 3

In primary motor cortex,what has the largest area of representation

Accepted Answer

The primary motor cortex has a somatotopic organization, where different body parts are represented in different regions. The lips and other parts of the face have a disproportionately large area of representation compared to their actual size, reflecting the complexity and precision of movements they are capable of.

Question 4

What is strongly correlated with the amount of motor cortex devoted to each body area

Accepted Answer

The amount of motor cortex devoted to each body area is strongly correlated with the diversity of movements of that body area, not its size, location, or the size of its muscles. This is because areas requiring fine motor skills and a wide range of movements, such as the hands and face, need more cortical area to process those complex movements.

Question 5

If you knew that a surgeon was about to do a surgery to disconnect the cerebral hemispheres,which of the following patients is she most likely to operate on

Accepted Answer

Surgically disconnecting the cerebral hemispheres is known as a corpus callosotomy, which is sometimes performed as a treatment for severe epilepsy that has not responded to other treatments. This surgery is typically done to prevent seizures from spreading from one hemisphere to the other through the corpus callosum.

Question 6

What is the main function of Wernicke's area

Accepted Answer

Wernicke's area is located in the left temporal lobe of the brain and is responsible for speech comprehension. It processes and interprets spoken and written language, allowing us to understand the meaning of words and sentences. Damage to this area can lead to difficulties with language comprehension, such as difficulty understanding spoken or written language, or being unable to comprehend the meaning of complex sentences.

Question 7

What would be most likely to be impaired because of damage to the right hemisphere

Accepted Answer

Damage to the right hemisphere of the brain typically affects the left side of the body due to the way the brain's neural pathways are organized. This means that control of the left leg (and other parts of the left side of the body) could be impaired.

Question 8

What is the area of the frontal lobe that plays an important role in the production of speech

Accepted Answer

Broca's area, located in the left frontal lobe, is responsible for the motor function of speech production. Damage to this area can result in difficulties with language production but not necessarily comprehension.

Question 9

What has traditionally been the main reason for the characterization of the left hemisphere as the "dominant" hemisphere

Accepted Answer

The main reason for the characterization of the left hemisphere as the "dominant" hemisphere is the evidence that the left hemisphere usually processes language. Studies have shown that for the majority of people, language production and comprehension are predominantly processed in the left hemisphere of the brain.

Question 10

What will be difficult for you if you experience damage to Broca's area

Accepted Answer

Damage to Broca's area, which is located in the left frontal lobe of the brain, typically results in difficulty with speech production. This is because Broca's area is involved in language processing and the formation of speech. A person with damage to this area may struggle to form words and sentences, speak fluently, or have difficulty with grammar and syntax. However, damage to Broca's area does not typically affect the ability to control arms and legs, hear, or be creative.

Question 11

If a monkey's mirror neuron fires when he sees another monkey reaching for a stick,in what other situation should that same neuron fire

Accepted Answer

The answer of If a monkey's mirror neuron fires when...

Question 12

If a monkey's mirror neurons fire when the monkey picks up a grape,when will those same neurons also fire

Accepted Answer

Mirror neurons fire both when a monkey performs an action and when it observes another individual performing the same action, such as picking up a grape.

Question 13

Some theorists believe that the brain contains a sort of "executive control system," which is responsible for monitoring,directing,and organizing thought processes.In which area of the brain would you find this system

Accepted Answer

The prefrontal cortex is believed to be responsible for executive functions, including monitoring, directing, and organizing thought processes. It is located in the anterior part of the frontal lobes of the brain.

Question 14

If one group of animals is raised in a stimulating environment and another group of animals is raised in a boring environment,what should be enhanced in the brains of animals raised in the stimulating environment

Accepted Answer

Dendritic branching refers to the growth and development of the branched projections of neurons that receive signals from other neurons. In a stimulating environment, animals are exposed to new experiences and challenges that may increase the complexity of their neural networks. This can lead to more extensive dendritic branching, which in turn can enhance the connections between neurons and improve cognitive function. Therefore, enhancing dendritic branching is the best choice for animals raised in a stimulating environment.

Question 15

What is characteristic of stem cells

Accepted Answer

Stem cells have the ability to differentiate or turn into specialized cells such as muscle, nerve, or blood cells anywhere in the body. This is what makes them unique and important for regenerative medicine.

Question 16

Because the speech centre is generally located in the left hemisphere of the brain,what would a split-brain patient be unable to describe or name

Accepted Answer

In a split-brain patient, the corpus callosum, which connects the two hemispheres of the brain, is severed. This means that information cannot be easily shared between the two hemispheres. Since the speech center is typically located in the left hemisphere, this hemisphere needs to process information for it to be described verbally. Objects seen in the left visual field are processed by the right hemisphere, which, in a split-brain patient, cannot transfer this information to the speech center in the left hemisphere. Therefore, the patient would be unable to describe or name objects seen in the left visual field.

Question 17

If you have difficulty understanding the meaning of speech because of brain damage,where is the damage most likely to be located

Accepted Answer

Wernicke's area is responsible for the comprehension of language and damage to this area can lead to difficulty in understanding speech, but not necessarily difficulty with producing speech. Broca's area is responsible for the production of language and damage to this area can lead to difficulty with speech production, but not necessarily understanding speech. The corpus callosum is responsible for connecting the two hemispheres of the brain and damage to this area can lead to communication issues between the two hemispheres. The pituitary gland is responsible for the secretion of hormones and not language comprehension.

Question 18

Stefan has suffered brain damage,and as a result,he shows deficits in attention,planning,and getting organized.Which area was likely damaged

Accepted Answer

The prefrontal cortex is responsible for attention, planning, and organization. Damage to this area can result in deficits in these abilities. The other options

Question 19

Monique is not able to understand spoken language.If Monique's problem stems from damage to the cerebral cortex,where is the damage most likely to be

Accepted Answer

The left temporal lobe is primarily responsible for processing language in the brain. Damage to this area can result in difficulty understanding spoken language, also known as receptive aphasia. Therefore, Monique's problem most likely stems from damage to her left temporal lobe.

Question 20

If you present a sound in the right ear,where will that sound be processed first

Accepted Answer

When a sound is presented in the right ear, it is processed by the left auditory cortex in the temporal lobe of the brain. The right temporal lobe processes sounds that are presented in the left ear.

Quiz 3: A: The Biological Bases of Behaviour