Question 1

The forebrain's parts can be diagrammed as  The missing part is the __________.

Accepted Answer

The forebrain's parts include the cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, and basal ganglia. The missing part, which completes the list of commonly recognized forebrain structures, is the limbic system. The cerebellum and midbrain are located in different regions of the brain and the reticular formation is a group of nuclei found throughout the brainstem.

Question 2

What's wrong with the accompanying diagram?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What's wrong with the accompanying diagram? 
...

Question 3

The amygdala is part of the __________.

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is a part of the limbic system, which is responsible for processing emotions and memory. The brainstem is responsible for regulating vital functions such as breathing and heart rate. The cerebral cortex is responsible for higher-level cognitive processes such as thought and perception. The sympathetic nervous system is one of the branches of the autonomic nervous system, responsible for the "fight or flight" response.

Question 4

Although the cortex makes up 80% of the volume of the human brain, it is only 2 to 3 millimeters thick. This is possible because of its numerous __________.

Accepted Answer

The cortex's numerous convolutions and fissures allow it to have a large surface area while being only 2 to 3 millimeters thick, enabling it to fit within the skull and perform complex functions.

Question 5

The longitudinal fissure divides the _____, while the central fissure divides the __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The longitudinal fissure divides the _____, while...

Question 6

A neuroscientist lesions part of a rat's brain. The rat continues to have normal vision and hearing, but now has difficulty navigating through a maze. It is likely that the researchers lesioned which area of the rat brain?

Accepted Answer

The hippocampus is a region of the brain involved in spatial navigation and forming new memories. Lesioning this area would cause difficulty for the rat in navigating through a maze, while leaving its sensory functions intact.

Question 7

The cerebellum's functions include all of the following except __________.

Accepted Answer

All of the listed functions are typically associated with the cerebellum, except for complex action planning, which is primarily associated with the cerebral cortex.

Question 8

The midbrain __________.

Accepted Answer

The midbrain is primarily involved in controlling eye movements and processing visual and auditory information. It does not regulate body temperature or control sleep-waking cycles, which are functions associated with other parts of the brain.

Question 9

Mario has experienced a closed head injury, and as a result he has damage to his limbic system. Mario is likely to experience difficulty with the control of his __________.

Accepted Answer

Damage to the limbic system can result in difficulty with emotional and motivational activities, as this system is responsible for regulating emotions and behaviors related to survival instincts such as hunger, thirst, and sexual arousal. Limbic system damage would not necessarily affect sensory functions, skeletal musculature, or higher mental processes such as thinking and language.

Question 10

Which of the following structures is(are) critical for regulating pain and modulating mood?

Accepted Answer

The midbrain and thalamus are critical for regulating pain and the modulation of mood. The midbrain contains the periaqueductal gray, which is involved in pain regulation, and the thalamus is a relay center for sensory information, including pain signals. Dysfunction in these structures can lead to chronic pain and mood disorders.

Question 11

The forebrain is divided into two halves __________.

Accepted Answer

The forebrain is divided into two halves along the longitudinal fissure, which runs from the front to the back of the brain. This division separates the left and right cerebral hemispheres. The limbic system is a collection of structures within the brain, including parts of the forebrain, that are involved in emotion, motivation, and memory processing. Split-brain patients are individuals who have had the corpus callosum, the primary connection between the two hemispheres, surgically severed. The division of the forebrain into two halves is not unique to primates as it is present in other vertebrates as well.

Question 12

So-called subcortical structures lie underneath the cortex. One of these is the thalamus, which __________.

Accepted Answer

The thalamus acts as a relay station for sensory information, transmitting it to the appropriate area of the cortex for further processing. It does not specialize in the processing of emotion, control speech or verbal reasoning, or control motivated behaviors.

Question 13

Brain researchers lesion part of a rat's brain. The rat continues to have normal vision and hearing, but now has difficulty telling whether a stimulus is a threat. The rat also shows difficulty modulating its emotional behavior. It is likely that the researchers lesioned which area of the rat brain?

Accepted Answer

The limbic system is involved in processing emotions, such as fear and aggression, and in modulating emotional behaviors. Lesioning this area of the rat's brain would lead to difficulty in recognizing threats and modulating emotional behaviors. The brain stem and sympathetic nervous system are more involved in basic physiological functions, such as heart rate and digestion. The cerebral cortex is involved in higher order cognitive functions, such as perception, attention, and decision making, but lesioning this area of the brain would lead to more specific deficits depending on the location of the lesion.

Question 14

The cerebellum's functions include all of the following except __________.

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum does not have a role in complex action planning. Its primary functions are maintaining balance, managing and timing precise skilled movements, and integrating information from joints, tendons, and muscles.

Question 15

The large brain structure that controls key life functions such as breathing, level of attentiveness, and timing of sleep and dreaming is called the __________.

Accepted Answer

The hindbrain controls key life functions such as breathing, level of attentiveness, and timing of sleep and dreaming. The midbrain is involved in sensory processing, while the forebrain is responsible for higher cognitive functions such as thinking and language. The cortex is the outer layer of the brain responsible for processing sensory information and thinking.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT likely to be controlled by the hypothalamus?

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is involved in regulating food intake, sexual behavior, and drinking, but emotional behavior is more broadly controlled by other brain regions, including the limbic system.

Question 17

After a head injury, Darnell shows deficits not only in balance and coordination, but also in spatial reasoning and sound discrimination. What area of Darnell's brain has most likely been affected as a result of the injury?

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum plays a key role in balance, coordination, and spatial reasoning, as well as in discriminating between different sensory stimuli. Thus, Darnell's deficits in these areas suggest that his cerebellum has been affected by the head injury. The brain stem, midbrain, and occipital area are also important for various functions, but their impairment would likely result in different symptoms. For example, damage to the brain stem could affect breathing and heart rate, while damage to the occipital area could affect vision.

Question 18

The hypothalamus is critical __________.

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus plays a critical role in controlling motivated behavior, including hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior. While it is also involved in emotional regulation, it is primarily responsible for regulating basic physiological needs. The hypothalamus is found in all mammals, not just primates, and is not specific to split-brain patients.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT one of the structures of the brain stem?

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is not part of the brain stem. It is a separate structure located beneath the cerebral hemispheres.

Question 20

Recent research has shown that problems with spatial reasoning-the ability to negotiate physical space, can be caused by damage to the __________.

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating movement, balance, and posture, as well as some aspects of spatial reasoning. Damage to the cerebellum can result in issues with spatial reasoning and difficulties with physical coordination. The other options, including the medulla, pons, and corpus callosum, are not directly related to spatial reasoning.

Quiz 3: The Brain and the Nervous System

The forebrain's parts can be diagrammed as The missing part is the __________.

What's wrong with the accompanying diagram?

The amygdala is part of the __________.

Although the cortex makes up 80% of the volume of the human brain, it is only 2 to 3 millimeters thick. This is possible because of its numerous __________.

The longitudinal fissure divides the _, while the central fissure divides the ______.

A neuroscientist lesions part of a rat's brain. The rat continues to have normal vision and hearing, but now has difficulty navigating through a maze. It is likely that the researchers lesioned which area of the rat brain?

The cerebellum's functions include all of the following except __________.

The midbrain __________.

Mario has experienced a closed head injury, and as a result he has damage to his limbic system. Mario is likely to experience difficulty with the control of his __________.

Which of the following structures is(are) critical for regulating pain and modulating mood?

The forebrain is divided into two halves __________.

So-called subcortical structures lie underneath the cortex. One of these is the thalamus, which __________.

Brain researchers lesion part of a rat's brain. The rat continues to have normal vision and hearing, but now has difficulty telling whether a stimulus is a threat. The rat also shows difficulty modulating its emotional behavior. It is likely that the researchers lesioned which area of the rat brain?

The cerebellum's functions include all of the following except __________.

The large brain structure that controls key life functions such as breathing, level of attentiveness, and timing of sleep and dreaming is called the __________.

Which of the following is NOT likely to be controlled by the hypothalamus?

After a head injury, Darnell shows deficits not only in balance and coordination, but also in spatial reasoning and sound discrimination. What area of Darnell's brain has most likely been affected as a result of the injury?

The hypothalamus is critical __________.

Which of the following is NOT one of the structures of the brain stem?

Recent research has shown that problems with spatial reasoning-the ability to negotiate physical space, can be caused by damage to the __________.