Question 1

Although the dorsal pathway allows us to detect motion of an object, must the latter be moving for us to get a complete picture about an object's saliency?

Accepted Answer

No, because the ventral stream is enough for recognition of an object; if the object is moving, only greater saliency is added. For example, most of us can recognize all breeds of dogs as belonging to the group, called "dogs," whether it is a German shepherd or a dachshund; in the vast majority of cases, we do not need prior experience with an object to be able to recognize it; we can generalize from one breed to another. Neither does the dog have to be moving, thereby activating the dorsal visual pathway, for us to recognize the animal as a dog. But, in case we cannot, then a moving dog helps us recognize it as an animal and even as a dog.

Question 2

The primary motor cortex is the _______ cortical area to receive input and whose neurons send axons to the ventral horn of the spinal cord.

Accepted Answer

A)  first 
B)  second 
C)  third 
D)  fourth 
E)  final 
A)  first 
B)  second 
C)  third 
D)  fourth 
E)  final E

Question 3

When one image is able to predict the appearance of a second image, the two stimuli are said to be paired. This can happen in either an artificial setting, such as in a laboratory, or in a natural setting, such as anywhere outside a laboratory. Explain what this kind of training is called and name the cortical structures involved.

Accepted Answer

This is known as "classical conditioning", first discovered and published by Ivan Pavlov (1897), who experimented with salivation (unconditioned response) as a response to the presentation of food (unconditioned stimulus), but which was then paired with the ringing of a bell (conditioned stimulus). After only a few training sessions, the ringing of the bell elicited salivation (conditioned response). So, the bell now predicted salivation. Although this paradigm involved the auditory and autonomic systems, this trained pairing can occur exclusively in the visual system as well, where one image predicts the presentation of another image. In this case, the inferotemporal (TE) cortex, which is posterior to the perihinal cortex, each "preferring" their own respective images. After a small number of trials, the TE's preferred image can be used to predict the presentation of the perihinal cortex's preferred image. Moreover, timing of responses is critical: When the preferred image of the perhinal appeared, this cortex responded before those in the TE; but, when the preferred image of the TE appeared soon afterwards, perihinal neurons responded after the TE neurons did. This represents posterior-to-anterior flow of information. But, when TE neurons received signals that predicted the presentation of perihinal's preferred stimulus, this represents anterior-to-posterior flow of information.

Question 4

As the stimuli move from S1 into S2, and then to the prefrontal cortex and then the premotor cortex, which of the following increases?

Accepted Answer

A)  Latency 
B)  Discharge rate 
C)  Frequency 
D)  Mixture of positive vs. negative responding 
E)  Mixture of excitation vs. inhibition 
A)  Latency 
B)  Discharge rate 
C)  Frequency 
D)  Mixture of positive vs. negative responding 
E)  Mixture of excitation vs. inhibition

Question 5

The further away from V1 or the further along the ventral visual pathway the lesion is, the _______ is the deficit.

Accepted Answer

A)  less severe 
B)  more severe 
C)  more complicated 
D)  more debilitating 
E)  more letha22 
A)  less severe 
B)  more severe 
C)  more complicated 
D)  more debilitating 
E)  more letha22

Question 6

The conversion of an image on the retina and then on the visual cortex into something meaningful on the posterior parietal cortex is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  generalization. 
B)  cognition. 
C)  intracortical processing. 
D)  Abstraction. 
E)  Learning and memory. 
A)  generalization. 
B)  cognition. 
C)  intracortical processing. 
D)  Abstraction. 
E)  Learning and memory.

Question 7

Transcranial magnetic stimulation of V1 interferes with visual recall. This means that

Accepted Answer

A)  flow of information is no longer flowing from V1 to V2. 
B)  flow of information from the frontal cortex and hippocampus has been disrupted. 
C)  all posterior-to-anterior information flow has been disrupted. 
D)  visual recall depends on the presentation of the stimulus as a reminder. 
E)  visual recall depends on the presentation of the stimulus as a predictor of other images. 
A)  flow of information is no longer flowing from V1 to V2. 
B)  flow of information from the frontal cortex and hippocampus has been disrupted. 
C)  all posterior-to-anterior information flow has been disrupted. 
D)  visual recall depends on the presentation of the stimulus as a reminder. 
E)  visual recall depends on the presentation of the stimulus as a predictor of other images.

Question 8

If the ventral pathway were ablated between V2 and not allowed to proceed further down the ventral stream, what would happen to object saliency?

Accepted Answer

A)  We would still be able to recognize an object only if we have prior experience with it. 
B)  We would be able to recognize the form (shape) of an object, but none of its substance (usefulness). 
C)  We would be able to recognize the form of an object, but not its color. 
D)  We would not be able to recognize an object regardless. 
E)  We could see only a part of the object. 
A)  We would still be able to recognize an object only if we have prior experience with it. 
B)  We would be able to recognize the form (shape) of an object, but none of its substance (usefulness). 
C)  We would be able to recognize the form of an object, but not its color. 
D)  We would not be able to recognize an object regardless. 
E)  We could see only a part of the object.

Question 9

One way to determine the function of the association cortex is to record cellular responses when the animal is presented with a certain stimulus. If the stimulus was a video of a famous celebrity singing, the temporal-occipital association cortex will receive both visual and auditory input. One should, therefore, record from

Accepted Answer

A)  the V1 cortex. 
B)  the V2 cortex. 
C)  both V1 and the auditory cortices. 
D)  the temporal-occipital association cortex. 
E)  the V1 cortex, auditory cortex and the temporal-occipital association cortex. 
A)  the V1 cortex. 
B)  the V2 cortex. 
C)  both V1 and the auditory cortices. 
D)  the temporal-occipital association cortex. 
E)  the V1 cortex, auditory cortex and the temporal-occipital association cortex.

Question 10

A chimpanzee is trained to reach a bunch of bananas suspended from the ceiling by using a ladder. On subsequent trials, the ladder is replaced with a chair and a stack of crates, placed in the room, but not directly underneath the bananas and either of which, the chimpanzee must now use to solve the problem of getting the bananas. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  cognitive processing. 
B)  generalization. 
C)  deduction. 
D)  induction. 
E)  instinct. 
A)  cognitive processing. 
B)  generalization. 
C)  deduction. 
D)  induction. 
E)  instinct.

Question 11

Clinically, the vibrational comparison experiments have application for the treatment of symptoms of

Accepted Answer

A)  stroke. 
B)  Alzheimer's disease. 
C)  spinal cord injury. 
D)  rash associated with chickenpox. 
E)  third-degree burns. 
A)  stroke. 
B)  Alzheimer's disease. 
C)  spinal cord injury. 
D)  rash associated with chickenpox. 
E)  third-degree burns.

Question 12

In the macaque brain, which part of the ventral stream seems to be the largest?

Accepted Answer

A)  V1 cortex 
B)  V2 cortex 
C)  Posterior part of the inferotemporal cortex 
D)  Anterior part of the inferotemporal cortex 
E)  They are all about the same size. 
A)  V1 cortex 
B)  V2 cortex 
C)  Posterior part of the inferotemporal cortex 
D)  Anterior part of the inferotemporal cortex 
E)  They are all about the same size.

Question 13

If you are watching a mouse navigate a maze, the mouse is a moving object whose movements are unpredictable. Which part of your visual system will be involved in analyzing the mouse's movements?

Accepted Answer

A)  Lateral geniculate nucleus 
B)  Posterior medial temporal lobe 
C)  V1 cortex 
D)  V2 cortex 
E)  Retina 
A)  Lateral geniculate nucleus 
B)  Posterior medial temporal lobe 
C)  V1 cortex 
D)  V2 cortex 
E)  Retina

Question 14

In the model, r = b + a1f1 + a2f2, [where r = firing rate, b = background firing rate, a = coefficient of a neuron's discharge rate, f1 = baseline frequency and f2 = comparison stimulus frequency], in which brain area does a vary the most?

Accepted Answer

A)  S1 cortex 
B)  S2 cortex 
C)  Medial prefrontal cortex 
D)  Medial premotor cortex 
E)  Primary motor cortex 
A)  S1 cortex 
B)  S2 cortex 
C)  Medial prefrontal cortex 
D)  Medial premotor cortex 
E)  Primary motor cortex

Question 15

Every day, you see and are familiar with your sister, who is 15 years old. Then, one day, she leaves, and you do not see her again for 15 years. Now, at age 30; you barely recognize her. Explain the activities your inferotemporal cortex (ITC) underwent during the first 15 years and then again when you see your sister at age 30.

Accepted Answer

During your first constant exposure to y

Question 16

Magnocellular cells originate in the

Accepted Answer

A)  retina. 
B)  lateral geniculate nucleus. 
C)  V1 cortex. 
D)  V2 cortex. 
E)  medial temporal lobe. 
A)  retina. 
B)  lateral geniculate nucleus. 
C)  V1 cortex. 
D)  V2 cortex. 
E)  medial temporal lobe.

Question 17

How do inferotemporal cortical neurons respond to repeated exposure to the same visual stimulus, which is only slightly altered with each presentation?

Accepted Answer

A)  The neurons become increasingly more active across trials. 
B)  The neurons become increasingly more active across trials but then plateau (sustained level of responding). 
C)  The neurons become increasingly less active across trials. 
D)  The neurons become increasingly less active across trials until some low steady-state level is reached. 
E)  The neurons immediately stop responding. 
A)  The neurons become increasingly more active across trials. 
B)  The neurons become increasingly more active across trials but then plateau (sustained level of responding). 
C)  The neurons become increasingly less active across trials. 
D)  The neurons become increasingly less active across trials until some low steady-state level is reached. 
E)  The neurons immediately stop responding.

Question 18

Functional MRI experiments indicated that saliency of a collection of visual stimuli was positively correlated with _______ in the occipito-termporal stream.

Accepted Answer

A)  metabolic activity 
B)  action potentials 
C)  white matter 
D)  grey matter 
E)  calcium currents 
A)  metabolic activity 
B)  action potentials 
C)  white matter 
D)  grey matter 
E)  calcium currents

Question 19

Propose a possible explanation for why the primary motor cortex has little-to-no stimulus coding.

Accepted Answer

It is possible that from S1-to-S2-to-PFC

Question 20

Which cortex belongs to both the ventral and dorsal pathways?

Accepted Answer

A)  V2 cortex 
B)  V4 cortex 
C)  Posterior inferotemporal cortex 
D)  Anterior inferotemporal cortex 
E)  Posterior parietal cortex 
A)  V2 cortex 
B)  V4 cortex 
C)  Posterior inferotemporal cortex 
D)  Anterior inferotemporal cortex 
E)  Posterior parietal cortex

Exam 25: Constructing Perception

Although the dorsal pathway allows us to detect motion of an object, must the latter be moving for us to get a complete picture about an object's saliency?

The primary motor cortex is the _______ cortical area to receive input and whose neurons send axons to the ventral horn of the spinal cord.

As the stimuli move from S1 into S2, and then to the prefrontal cortex and then the premotor cortex, which of the following increases?

The further away from V1 or the further along the ventral visual pathway the lesion is, the _______ is the deficit.

The conversion of an image on the retina and then on the visual cortex into something meaningful on the posterior parietal cortex is an example of

Transcranial magnetic stimulation of V1 interferes with visual recall. This means that

If the ventral pathway were ablated between V2 and not allowed to proceed further down the ventral stream, what would happen to object saliency?

Clinically, the vibrational comparison experiments have application for the treatment of symptoms of

In the macaque brain, which part of the ventral stream seems to be the largest?

If you are watching a mouse navigate a maze, the mouse is a moving object whose movements are unpredictable. Which part of your visual system will be involved in analyzing the mouse's movements?

In the model, r = b + a1f1 + a2f2, [where r = firing rate, b = background firing rate, a = coefficient of a neuron's discharge rate, f1 = baseline frequency and f2 = comparison stimulus frequency], in which brain area does a vary the most?

Magnocellular cells originate in the

How do inferotemporal cortical neurons respond to repeated exposure to the same visual stimulus, which is only slightly altered with each presentation?

Functional MRI experiments indicated that saliency of a collection of visual stimuli was positively correlated with _______ in the occipito-termporal stream.

Propose a possible explanation for why the primary motor cortex has little-to-no stimulus coding.

Which cortex belongs to both the ventral and dorsal pathways?

Principles of Signaling and Organization

Signaling in the Visual System

Functional Architecture of the Visual Cortex

Ion Channels and Signaling

Structure of Ion Channels

Ionic Basis of the Resting Potential

Ionic Basis of the Action Potential

Electrical Signaling in Neurons

Ion Transport Across Cell Membranes

Properties and Functions of Neuroglial Cells

Mechanisms of Direct Synaptic Transmission

Indirect Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission

Release of Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters in the Central Nervous System

Transmitter Synthesis, Storage, Transport, and Inactivation

Synaptic Plasticity

The Molecular and Cellular Biology of Synaptic Plasticity

Mechanisms of Extrasynaptic Communication

Autonomic Nervous System

Walking, Flying, and Swimming: Cellular Mechanisms of Sensorimotor Behavior in Invertebrates

Sensory Transduction

Transduction and Transmission in the Retina

Touch, Pain, and Texture Sensation

Auditory and Vestibular Sensation

Initiation and Control of Coordinated Muscular Movements

Development of the Nervous System

Critical Periods in Sensory Systems

Regeneration and Repair of Synaptic Connections After Injury

Appendix

Filters

In the model, r = b + a₁f₁+ a₂f₂, [where r = firing rate, b = background firing rate, a = coefficient of a neuron's discharge rate, f₁ = baseline frequency and f₂ = comparison stimulus frequency], in which brain area does a vary the most?