Week three: The Brain & Nervous System Flashcards
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that affects:
Select one:
a. Learning
b. All of the options listed
c. Attention
d. Pleasure
b. all of the options listed
A split-brain patient, an individual whose corpus callosum has been surgically cut, is shown a picture of a green apple in their right visual field and a picture of a yellow banana in their left visual field. If asked to report the colour of the object, what would they say?
Select one:
a. A green apple and a yellow banana.
b. I did not see an object
c. Green
d. Yellow
c. Green
Which one of these is an appropriate way to study the brain?
Select one:
a. All of the options listed.
b. Study of people with brain lesions
c. Examine the brains of other animals
d. Using imaging techniques
a. All of the options listed.
The term ‘lateralised’ refers to the fact that:
Select one:
a. women are better than men at some things.
b. cortical functions are localised to one or the other side of the brain.
c. children learn language faster than adults.
d. the brain cortex is wrinkled and folded.
b. cortical functions are localised to one or the other side of the brain.
While roller blading without a helmet, Chell fell and hit the back of her head. She was taken to the hospital because she injured her:
Select one:
a. brain stem, and couldn’t see.
b. occipital lobe, and had visual problems.
c. thalamus, and was paralysed.
d. motor cortex, and was paralysed.
b. occipital lobe, and had visual problems.
A neurotransmitter is …
Select one:
a. an imaging technique.
b. an important region of the frontal lobe involved in speech function.
c. a chemical messenger between neurons.
d. part of the limbic system.
c. a chemical messenger between neurons.
Which area of the brain processes taste and touch?
Select one:
a. occipital lobe
b. frontal lobe
c. temporal lobe
d. parietal lobe
d. parietal lobe
Which one of the followings is NOT part of a neuron?
Select one:
a. synaptic gap
b. soma
c. axon
d. dendrites
a. synaptic gap
The synaptic gap is the space between neurons.
The sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system:
Select one:
a. have essentially the same functions but use different pathways to accomplish them.
b. operate in reciprocal fashion to ready the body for flight or fight and then returns then body to an even state.
c. are unrelated in function.
d. direct involuntary and automatic actions.
d. direct involuntary and automatic actions.
The term _________ refers to the brain’s ability to form new neural connection.
Select one:
a. action potential
b. blood-brain-barrier
c. neuroplasticity
d. lateralisation
c. neuroplasticity
The limbic system is
a collection of highly specialised neural structures that sit at the top of the brain stem, which are involved in regulating our emotions. Structures within the limbic system influence hunger, the sleep-wake cycle, sexual desire, fear and aggression, and even memory.
The brain stem is
the most basic structure of the brain and is located at the top of the spine and bottom of the brain. It is in charge of “life support” functions for the human body including breathing, digestion, and the beating of the heart. Sends the signals without any conscious effort on our behalf.
The cerebellum is
a structure at the very back of the brain. Co-ordinates actions without the need for any conscious awareness.
The cerebrum (also called the “cerebral cortex”)
is the “newest,” most advanced portion of the brain. The cerebral hemispheres (the left and right hemispheres that make up each side of the top of the brain) are in charge of the types of processes that are associated with more awareness and voluntary control such as speaking and planning as well as contain our primary sensory areas (such as seeing, hearing, feeling, and moving). These two hemispheres are connected to one another by a thick bundle of axons called the corpus callosum.
What happens when the corpus callosum (the thick bundle of axons which connect the two hemispheres of the brain) as a result of a genetic abnormality, or as the result of surgery, have had their corpus callosum severed?
In this instance, the two halves of the brain cannot easily communicate with one another. The rare split-brain patients offer helpful insights into how the brain works. For example, we now understand that the brain is contralateral, or opposite-sided. This means that the left side of the brain is responsible for controlling a number of sensory and motor functions of the right side of the body, and vice versa.
What is the cerebral cortex and what are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?
The cerebral cortex is the outer part of the brain. Each part of the cerebral cortex is associated with a specific function. They are: The Paretal lobe The Frontal lobe The Temporal lobe The occipital lobe
The occipital lobe is
VISION. Located at the back of the cerebral cortex, and is the house of the visual area of the brain. You can see the road in front of you when you are driving, track the motion of a ball in the air thanks to the occipital lobe.
The temporal lobe
is located on the underside of the cerebral cortex, and is where sounds and smells are processed.
The parietal lobe
is at the upper back of the cerebral cortex, is where touch and taste are processed.
The frontal lobe
is located at the forward part of the cerebral cortex is where behavioural motor plans are processed as well as a number of highly complicated processes occur including speech and language use, creative problem solving, and planning and organisation.
The primary motor cortex is
the strip running along the side of the brain, in charge of voluntary movements like waving goodbye, wiggling your eyebrows, and kissing.
Each of our various body parts has a unique portion of the primary motor cortex devoted to it. Each individual finger has about as much dedicated brain space as your entire leg.
Temporal Resolution
A term that refers to how small a unit of time can be measured; high temporal resolution means capable of resolving very small units of time; in neuroscience it describes how precisely in time a process can be measured in the brain.
Temporal Lobe
The part of the cerebrum in front of (anterior to) the occipital lobe and below the lateral fissure; involved in vision, auditory processing, memory, and integrating vision and audition.
Synaptic Gap
Also known as the synaptic cleft; the small space between the presynaptic terminal button and the postsynaptic dendritic spine, axon, or soma.
