Biology and behavior

Question 1

Who would believe that when you get better at a skill, the brain area responsible would expand

Answer 1

Franz Gall. He believed that if a trait was well developed the area of the brain responsible would expand. This (he believed) would cause a large bulge on the head. He believed that one could measure psychological attributes by measuring the skull. This belief was termed phrenology.

FRanz= PHRenology

Question 2

Ablation was a common method used by who and for what

Answer 2

ablation/extirpation is the removal of sections of the brain to observe behavioral consequences. Pierre Flourens was the first to study functions of the major section of the brain and he did it via ablation

Question 3

The father of American psychology, William James, is known for

Answer 3

Willam James, studied functionalism: how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment

Father= functionalism

Question 4

compare the ideas of John Dewey and William James

Answer 4

Both played a role in functionalism (how mental processes play a role in adapting to the environment)

Question 5

When addressing behavioral deficits of people with brain damage, what historical figure would most be interested

Answer 5

Paul Broca. Broca studied people with behavioral deficits who had brain damage. Broca determined that specific impairments were linked with specific areas of the brain.

Broca’s area deals with ability to speak

Question 6

compare the findings of Hermann Von Hemholtz with Charles Sherrington

Answer 6

Hemholtz measured the speed of a nerve impulse, related this speed to reaction time, and provided a basis for behavior and nervous system activity

Sherrington inferred the existence of synapses.

Hemholtz= hurry (speed of nerve impulse)
Sherrington= Synapse

Question 7

compare sensory neurons and motor neurons

Answer 7

sensory neurons (afferent) send sensory information from receptors to spinal cord/brain.

motor neurons (efferent) send information from the CNS to muscles and glands

Question 8

neurons linked to reflexive behavior

Answer 8

interneurons, the most numerous type. Mostly found in brain and spinal cord

Question 9

peripheral NS divisions

Answer 9

Somatic and autonomic

Autonomic splits into sympathetic and parasympathetic

Question 10

ACH relates to which branch of the NS

Answer 10

parasympathetic

Question 11

Upon parasympathetic response, how would the following be affected

• pupils
• saliva
• bronchi
• peristalsis
• bile
• bladder

Answer 11

pupils constrict, saliva flow increases, bronchi constrict, peristalsis is stimulated, bile release is stimulated, contract bladder

Question 12

relaxed bronchi , stimulation of piloerection, and inhibition of peristalsis are characteristic of what type of response

Answer 12

sympathetic

Question 13

Meninge layers outer to inner

Answer 13

Dura, arachnoid, pia

DAP

Question 14

5 structures of forebrain

Answer 14

the forebrain 5 are the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, limbic system, thalamus, hypothalamus

Question 15

If a neural tube defect was present in which the rhombencephalon was not developed at all, what structures would be missing from the mature brain

Answer 15

Rhombencephalon= hindbrain. The hindbrain includes the cerebellum, medulla, reticular formation, and pons

Question 16

name functions of the forebrain structures

• cerebral cortex
• basal ganglia
• limbic system
• thalamus
• hypothalamus

Answer 16

• cerebral cortex: complex thinking and behavior
• basal ganglia: movement
• limbic system: emotion/ memory
• thalamus: sensory relay information
• hypothalamus: hunger and thirst, emotion

Question 17

A mad scientist poked random areas of a persons brain. When the person woke up, they no longer had any emotions. Which area(s) could have been damaged

Answer 17

the limbic system and/or hypothalamus

Question 18

Function of the structures of the hindbrain

• Cerebellum
• medulla
• reticular formation
• pons

Answer 18

• Cerebellum: refined motor movements
• medulla: heart, vital reflexes (vomiting/coughing)
• reticular formation: arousal, alertness
• pons: communication within the brain, breathing

Question 19

three sections of the embryonic brain

Answer 19

prosencephalon(forebrain) >>>> diencephalon and telencephalon

Mesencephalon (midbrain)

Rhombencephalon(hindbrain)>>>>>metencephalon and myelencephalon

Question 20

A cave mans brain is being examined, what functional part(s) are likely to be missing

Answer 20

The forebrain. The hindbrain and midbrain were developed earlier and form the brainstem, the most primitive area of the brain.

Question 21

which brain area (hindbrain, midbrain, or forebrain) is responsible for the startle when hearing a very loud noise

Answer 21

Midbrain. The inferior colliculus receives info from the auditory system.

Question 22

how do the superior and inferior colliculus of the midbrain differ

Answer 22

superior receives visual sensory input, inferior receives auditory input

Question 23

Which brain area (hindbrain, midbrain, or forebrain) most influences behavior

Answer 23

forebrain

Question 24

a malformed pineal gland and thalamus could be the result of what kind of issue during prenatal development

Answer 24

neural tube issues, specifically development issues when splitting. During prenatal development the prosencephalon divides into the telencephalon and diencephalon. The diencephalon forms the thalamus and pineal gland (as well as the posterior pituitary and hypothalamus)

Question 25

which area of the brain is responsible for impulse control and long term planning

Answer 25

cerebral cortex

Question 26

during embryonic development, the rhombencephalon (hindbrain) divides into the myelencephalon and the metencephalon. what do these structures form in a mature brain

Answer 26

myelencephalon= medulla oblongota

metencephalon= pons and cerebellum

Question 27

during prenatal development the prosencephalon divides into the telencephalon and diencephalon. what structures are formed from the divisions

Answer 27

telencephalon= cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and limbic systen

diencephalon= thalamus, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary, and pineal gland

Question 28

compare EEG to rCBF

Answer 28

EEG=electroencephalogram, measures patterns of electrical activity in the brain. commonly used on subjects with seizures, sleep issues, and brain lesions

rCBF= regional cerebral blood flow, detects broad patterns of neural activity based on increased blood flow to different parts of the brain. This relies on the assumption that when a specific cognitive function activates certain areas of the brain, blood flow to that region increases.

Question 29

compare a CT scan and a PET scan

Answer 29

CT= multiple x rays at different angles

PET= radioactive tracer is injected and absorbed and dispersion through target tissue is imaged

Question 30

MRI vs fMRI

Answer 30

MRI uses a magnetic field to interact with hydrogen and map out varying hydrogen densities

fMRI uses same technique as MRI but specifically measures change in blood flow; useful in assessing brain and areas of neuronal activation

Question 31

cortical maps

Answer 31

during brain surgery, electrodes are used in different areas to examine response depending on location

Question 32

Thalamus

Answer 32

sensory “waystation” serves as a relay station for all incoming senses (except smell) and sorts them to appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex