chapter 3: the brain

Question 1

which of these is not one of the basic goals of the nervous system?
a. gather info from sensory systems
b. send info to brain
c. secrete hormones into bloodstream
d. direct movement of the muscles

Answer 1

c. secrete hormones into bloodstream

Question 2

what is the difference between neurons and nerves?

Answer 2

• neurons: specialized cells that transmit information
• nerves: bundles of connective tissue between the neurons that carry info over long distance

Question 3

name the three portions of the CNS

Answer 3

brain
spinal cord
retina

Question 4

what is the function of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 4

regulate unconscious bodily functions (heart rate, digestion, respiration, sexual arousal, etc)

Question 5

name the two subset of the autonomic nervous system and define their functions

Answer 5

sympathetic nervous system: reduce lower-priority bodily functions to prepare for immediate action (fight-or-flight)
parasympathetic: regulates bodily functions when immediate action is not needed

Question 6

which represents the function of the hypothalamus.
a. controls memory and learning
b. maintains homeostasis
c. receive and relays sensory information
d. processes emotions, most likely fear

Answer 6

b. maintains homeostasis: regulates body temp, hunger/thirst, fatigue, sexual behavior, etc

Question 7

True or false?
in the case of a reflex action, the spinal cord generates a behavioral action before the information gets to the brain

Answer 7

true

Question 8

Describe the input/output loop between the PNS and the CNS

Answer 8

PNS brings info from sensory system to spinal cord → brain
brain (CNS) makes behavioral decision and sends behavioral signals through spine down to body (PNS)

Question 9

why does the brain have gyri and sulci?

Answer 9

it increases the surface area it can fit in the skull

Question 10

gyri are the “…” and sulci are the “…” of the cortex
a. hill, valley
b. valley, hill

Answer 10

a. gyri are the “hill” and sulci are the “valley” of the cortex

Question 11

what are the four distinct lobes of the brain and where are they

Answer 11

frontal
occipital
temporal
parietal

Question 12

what is the corpus callosum

Answer 12

band of fibers that connect the two hemispheres

Question 13

what is the main dominant function of both hemispheres

Answer 13

left hemisphere: language
right hemisphere: spatial processing

Question 14

define functional location

Answer 14

specific parts of the cortex do different specific jobs

Question 15

where must you present an object to a split brain patient if you want them to draw the object

Answer 15

left visual field

Question 16

define neuropsychology

Answer 16

study or observation of brain function and impairment due to brain pathology

Question 17

which does NOT represent a function of the parietal lobe
a. somatosensory processing
b. planning
c. attention
d. sensory integration

Answer 17

b. planning

Question 18

what is the function of the occipital lobe

Answer 18

responsible for vision

Question 19

which does NOT represent a function of the temporal lobe
a. visual memory
b. meaning of language
c. executive control
d. meaning of sensory information

Answer 19

c. executive control

Question 20

what is the role of the frontal lobe

Answer 20

planning, executive control

Question 21

what does the electroencephalography (EEG) measure

Answer 21

electrical activity of the active brain that travels through the scalp

Question 22

what are called the rapid changes in electrical charges caused by the onset of a stimulus

Answer 22

event-related potential (ERP)

Question 23

what is the fusiform face area (FFA)

Answer 23

region in the inferior temporal cortex that is specifically activated by faces

Question 24

what is the multi-variate pattern analysis (MVPA)

Answer 24

data analysis that uses machine learning to decode what task or stimulus a participant is engaging in, based on the distribution of activity across the brain

Question 25

which two of these statements are true about EEG relative to fMRI?
a. EEG takes less temporally frequent measurements
b. EEG takes more spatially precise measurements
c. EEG takes more temporally frequent measurements
d. EEG takes less spatially precise measurements

Answer 25

c, d

Question 26

what is the functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)

Answer 26

tool that uses near-infrared light to measure oxygenated vs non-oxygenated hemoglobin

Question 27

what is the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Answer 27

technique that uses brief but strong magnetic pulses to temporarily disrupt the electrical activity of the brain

Question 28

why do scientists use the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Answer 28

to test the effects disrupting specific portions of the cortex has on behavior

Question 29

what are the limitations of the TMS

Answer 29

1. only possible to disrupt regions that are close to the surface of the brain
2. can’t precisely pinpoint what effect it is having on the brain

Question 30

define neuroplasticity

Answer 30

ability for the brain to reorganize the spatial arrangement of its function

Question 31

what are the limitations to cognitive neuroscience

Answer 31

1. only tells us something about when and where certain functions are carried out in the brain
2. largely depends on the assumption that the brain is made up of distinct modules that carry out different functions

Question 32

what is the difference between structural MRI and functional MRI

Answer 32

structural: used to find structural anomalies
functional: provides info about brain activity

Question 33

which region of the brain is more active when viewing body parts?

Answer 33

right lateral occipitotemporal cortex

Question 34

if there is damage to the corpus callosum, how will information shown in the right visual field be processed?

Answer 34

able to verbally describe it but can’t be expressed via visuo-spatial processes

Question 35

what are the cons of fMRI

Answer 35

• doesn’t provide good temporal resolution to determine timing of brain activity
• indirect measure of neural activity
• very noisy

Question 36

the parahippocampal place area (PPA) is a functional region that responds best to…

Answer 36

spatial layouts: images of scenes and places

Question 37

what is the role of the supplementary motor area

Answer 37

performing or imagining movements