Chapter 7 - Brain Structure

Question 1

How does a large brain increase chances of survival?

Answer 1

The larger the brain, the better the chance of survival. It enables learning by experience, including social behaviour, where we are able to interact with others.

Question 2

What is the cerebral cortex?

Answer 2

• the thin, folded, outer layer of the brain (basically the big type tube things which make up most of the brain)

Question 3

What is the cerebral cortex involved with?

Answer 3

• intelligence (how we think and solve problems)
• Memory (how we remember experiences)
• language (how we communicate verbally)
• Consciousness (being aware of ourselves and our surroundings)

(A large number of folds in the cerebral cortex increases our ability to process information)

Question 4

What do neuroscientists do?

Answer 4

• neuroscientists map the regions of the brain using invasive and non-invasive methods

Question 5

Invasive methods include:

Answer 5

• studying how a person is affected when a certain part of the brain is damaged
• during brain surgery, using electrodes to stimulate parts of the brain electrically, and seeing how patients are affected, including memories and sensations.

Question 6

Non invasive methods include producing images and mapping activity with scanning techniques, e.g. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These are useful in:

Answer 6

• comparing non-diseased brains with the brains of people with brain disease, e.g. Alzheimer’s disease
• looking at activity in the brain when it’s stimulated (by music, language or images)

Question 7

How many neurons make up the complex brain of humans and other mammals?

Answer 7

• billions of neurons