Question 1

According to a study by Maguire and his colleagues, which part of a taxi driver's brain is more likely to be larger than normal, and why?

Accepted Answer

The study by Maguire and colleagues found that the hippocampus of London taxi drivers was larger than normal, which suggests that they had greater and more accurate representations of the spatial world. The hippocampus is a part of the brain involved in spatial memory and navigation, and it is known to be more active in taxi drivers when they navigate through familiar routes.

Question 2

Capsaicin rubs, Tiger balm, and other salves used by athletes to sooth muscle injuries create a burning sensation. This is likely due to the fact that the skin receptors they affect signal the release of ____________ that eventually prevents the affected neurons from transmitting pain signals.

Accepted Answer

Capsaicin and other salves used by athletes contain compounds that bind to and activate the TRPV1 receptor on the skin. This receptor is normally activated by heat, which is why the skin feels like it's burning. When TRPV1 is activated, it causes a release of substance P, which signals pain to the brain. However, if the TRPV1 receptor is constantly activated by capsaicin or other compounds, it eventually leads to depletion of substance P, which in turn prevents the affected neurons from transmitting pain signals.

Question 3

Early in the twentieth century, Dr. Walter Freeman treated mental patients by performing:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Walter Freeman is known for his development and popularization of the lobotomy procedure in the early twentieth century as a treatment for mental illnesses. This involved severing connections in the brain's prefrontal cortex, which sometimes resulted in significant cognitive and emotional impairments in patients. A hemispherectomy is the removal of one half of the brain, while a basal ganglia ablation involves the destruction of specific structures involved in motor control and movement disorders. Germline therapy refers to manipulating genetic material within reproductive cells, which is not related to Dr. Freeman's work with mental patients.

Question 4

Anke is working in a laboratory and comes across a rat that is grossly overweight and seems unable to stop eating. The researcher tells Anke this rat has a brain lesion. Which part of the brain most likely has the lesion?

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating hunger and satiety signals. A brain lesion in this area could disrupt this regulation, leading to overeating and obesity.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT part of the temporal lobes?

Accepted Answer

The nucleus accumbens is not part of the temporal lobes, it is actually located in the ventral striatum, which is part of the basal ganglia in the subcortical regions of the brain. The other options - primary auditory cortex, fusiform face area, and Wernicke's area - are all located in the temporal lobes.

Question 6

You and a classmate engage in a debate over what part of the brain makes humans highly intelligent. Your friend correctly argues that the frontal lobe is important. However, being a fine psychology student, you point out that it is not the ____________, but the ____________ that makes the frontal lobe critical.

Accepted Answer

The answer of You and a classmate engage in a...

Question 7

As Andre came into the room in which his introductory psychology exam would take place, he noticed that his heart rate had increased due to his ____________. As he settled into the test and was able to correctly answer the questions, he calmed down. This was due to the ____________.

Accepted Answer

The increase in heart rate is due to activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which prepares the body for a fight or flight response. As Andre correctly answers the questions, his parasympathetic nervous system is activated, which reduces heart rate and promotes calmness. None of the other options are consistent with this scenario.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the cerebral cortex?

Accepted Answer

Damage to the cerebral cortex can result in various neurological deficits, but not necessarily death.

Question 9

The spinal cord is part of the ____________ system.

Accepted Answer

The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. It is responsible for relaying sensory information from the body to the brain, and motor information from the brain to the body.

Question 10

Which of the following structures is important for experiencing reward?

Accepted Answer

The nucleus accumbens is a structure located in the basal ganglia that is important for experiencing reward. It is a key part of the brain's reward pathway and is involved in the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. The frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex is important for many cognitive functions, but is not specifically associated with reward processing. The frontal lobe of the basal ganglia does not exist as a discrete structure. The nucleus accumbens is not part of the cerebral cortex.

Question 11

Jonas has experienced a relatively severe right hemisphere stroke. As a result, he has been diagnosed with hemineglect. That is, he is unable to notice anything on the left side of his body. The location of the stroke is most likely within the:

Accepted Answer

Hemineglect is a symptom that is commonly associated with damage to the parietal lobes, particularly the right parietal lobe in cases of left side neglect. The other lobes (frontal, temporal, and occipital) are not typically associated with hemineglect.

Question 12

Joaquim has experienced a relatively severe left hemisphere stroke. As a result, he has been diagnosed with an inability to identify faces and understand what is spoken to him. The location of his stroke is most likely within the:

Accepted Answer

The temporal lobe is primarily responsible for processing auditory information and is also involved in visual perception, including facial recognition. Damage to this area can result in difficulty understanding spoken language and identifying faces, which are consistent with Joaquim's symptoms. The frontal lobe is primarily responsible for higher-level executive functions, the parietal lobe is responsible for spatial processing, and the occipital lobe is responsible for visual processing. While damage to these areas can also result in language and visual deficits, they are not as typically associated with facial recognition difficulties as the temporal lobe.

Question 13

The amygdala plays an important role in ____________, while the hippocampus plays an important role in ____________.

Accepted Answer

The amygdala plays an important role in fear or emotional reactions, while the hippocampus plays an important role in spatial memory.

Question 14

A young child is referred to Marco's psychology practice following a severe accident. The child had vision prior to the accident, but because of a blow to the head, she can no longer see. Her eyes are still fully functional. Based on this information, Marco determines that the brain area most likely damaged in the accident is the:

Accepted Answer

The occipital lobe is responsible for processing visual information. Since the child's eyes are fully functional but she cannot see, it is likely that her occipital lobe was damaged in the accident.

Question 15

Brad has experienced a relatively severe left hemisphere stroke. As a result, he is unable to move his right arm and has a great deal of difficulty planning and maintaining attention. The location of his stroke is most likely the:

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobe is responsible for motor function, planning, and attention. A stroke in the left hemisphere affecting the frontal lobe can lead to right-sided motor deficits and difficulties with planning and attention.

Question 16

After cautiously walking home and arriving safely from her late night class, Selma notices her heart rate slows, as does her breathing. This automatic return to a normal state is due to the activity of the:

Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic system is responsible for the "rest and digest" response in the body, which includes slowing down the heart rate, decreasing blood pressure, and promoting digestion. In this scenario, Selma's return to a normal state after walking home safely would be a typical response of the parasympathetic system.

Question 17

The basal ganglia is a system of subcortical structures critical for:

Accepted Answer

The basal ganglia is primarily involved in planning and producing movement, making option A the best choice. While there is evidence that the basal ganglia may play a role in some emotional processing, it is not its primary function. It is also not responsible for synthesizing incoming information or thinking in general.

Question 18

As Beatriz works outside in her yard, she works up a pretty good sweat. This is due in part to the functioning of her:

Accepted Answer

The autonomic nervous system regulates automatic bodily functions, such as sweating, and is responsible for the body's response to external stimuli.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

The temporal lobe plays a significant role in processing auditory information and memory, not the integration of movement and sight.

Question 20

Walking to his car late at night, Otto became extra vigilant and his body was on alert for danger. This was due to the actions of the:

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response and prepares the body for action in response to perceived danger or stress. In this case, walking to his car late at night triggers this response, leading to heightened vigilance and physical readiness for potential danger.

Quiz 3: Biological Foundations