Deck 2: The Neuroscience of Learning and Memory

Question 1

Early learning and memory researchers focused on behavior, rather than brain function, because:

A) they did not think the brain was involved in learning and memory.
B) they were not interested in how the brain was involved in learning and memory.
C) technology wasn't yet available for studying the complexities of the brain.
D) none of them knew how to study physiology.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The nervous system is:

A) mainly involved in cooling the blood.
B) considered the seat of learning and memory.
C) a relatively simple anatomical system.
D) devoted to the distribution and processing of information.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Suppose researchers train a pigeon to peck at a blue disc to obtain food. They then lesion a very small part of its brain and find that the pigeon has forgotten that it needs to peck the blue disc for food. Such a finding would be evidence for:

A) the theory of equipotentiality.
B) the Bell-Magendie law of neural specialization.
C) synaptic plasticity.
D) the engram.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI):

A) directly measures neural activity.
B) usually picks up more areas of brain activation than does positron emission tomography (PET).
C) requires injecting radioactive materials into the participant's bloodstream.
D) is faster than positron emission tomography (PET).

Question 5

In neuroimaging studies, researchers use a(n) _____ to determine how activity at each point in the image has changed relative to a baseline.

A) engram
B) event-related potential
C) lesion
D) difference image

Question 6

If a friend pats one on the back, the neurons that carry the information from the touch receptors on one's back to one's brain are part of the:

A) central nervous system.
B) peripheral nervous system.
C) left hemisphere.
D) right hemisphere.

Question 7

When one recognizes a friend at a party, which brain area is the first to receive the information from one's visual receptors?

A) the primary visual cortex (V1)
B) the primary sensory cortex
C) the thalamus
D) the frontal cortex

Question 8

Four people failed a difficult exam and are trying to forget about the experience. Which person will be MOST successful?

A) Manny, who has been staying awake for the past three nights
B) Jacob, who keeps thinking about how important this test was
C) Joan, who has taken up meditation
D) Bree, who enjoys listening to music, watching TV, and talking to her friends all at once

Question 9

Which behavior is reflexive?

A) a dog salivating in response to food
B) a student studying hard after receiving a poor grade
C) a pigeon pecking at a light to obtain food
D) a child saying "please" in order to get a cookie

Question 10

If one stubs one's toe, the painful sensation is carried to the brain by neurons in the:

A) occipital lobe.
B) frontal lobe.
C) central nervous system.
D) peripheral nervous system.

Question 11

The Bell-Magendie law:

A) applies to the brainstem but not to the spinal cord.
B) proposes one nerve system for sensing and another for responding.
C) applies to the central nervous system but not to the peripheral nervous system.
D) proposes that the brain is divided into two hemispheres.

Question 12

Comparative neuroanatomy refers to the examination of the similarities and differences among the:

A) brains of people of different ages.
B) cerebral hemispheres.
C) different lobes of the cerebral cortex.
D) brains of different organisms.

Question 13

A doctor is concerned that Martha has a dysfunction involving the axons of her brain. Which neuroimaging technique would BEST be able to detect this problem?

A) phrenology
B) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
C) computed tomography (CT) scan
D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Question 14

The ability of worms and jellyfish to learn is notable because they each have:

A) a CNS but not a PNS.
B) no recognizable brain.
C) no neurons.
D) very large brainstems.

Question 15

Which mechanism is NOT one by which drugs alter synaptic transmission?

A) increasing the ability of the presynaptic neuron to produce neurotransmitter
B) increasing the ability of the presynaptic neuron to receive neurotransmitter
C) decreasing the ability of the presynaptic neuron to produce neurotransmitter
D) altering the mechanisms for clearing neurotransmitter from the synapse

Question 16

Long-term potentiation:

A) was first observed in the thalamus.
B) occurs when the postsynaptic neuron is stimulated with a high-frequency burst.
C) can last for hours or even longer.
D) involves a weakening in synaptic transmission following recent activity.

Question 17

The central nervous system is made up of:

A) nerves and muscles.
B) sensory organs.
C) sensory and motor neurons.
D) the brain and the spinal cord.

Question 18

Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is responsible for processing things that one hears?

A) frontal
B) temporal
C) occipital
D) parietal

Question 19

Which part(s) of a neuron send(s) signals to other neurons?

A) dendrites
B) the cell body
C) the axon
D) glia

Question 20

Phrenology involves:

A) scanning the brains of living humans using a magnetic field.
B) associating deficits in mental abilities with damage to specific brain regions.
C) associating bumps on the skull with abilities and personality traits.
D) examining which parts of the brain are damaged after a head injury.

Question 21

In vertebrates, the nervous system is divided into the:

A) brain and neurons.
B) parietal lobe and occipital lobe.
C) central nervous system and peripheral nervous system.
D) cerebellum and brainstem.

Question 22

Remembering what information would be MOST likely to involve the amygdala?

A) the details of one's first date
B) how one felt when graduating from high school
C) how to perform an intricate sequence of gymnastic moves
D) the definition of new terms in a psychology class

Question 23

The part of cerebral cortex that is important for processing visual elements is the:

A) occipital lobe.
B) parietal lobe.
C) brainstem.
D) frontal lobe.

Question 24

When one reaches to catch a basketball, the neurons that carry the message from one's brain to the muscles in one's arms and hands are part of the:

A) central nervous system.
B) peripheral nervous system.
C) left hemisphere.
D) right hemisphere.

Question 25

Studying invertebrate nervous systems is useful because invertebrates:

A) have more simple nervous systems than vertebrates do.
B) have clearly defined central and peripheral nervous systems.
C) are incapable of learning, making it easier to study their other behaviors.
D) do not have any neurons in their nervous systems.

Question 26

Which brain structure is especially important for remembering one's eighth birthday party?

A) the thalamus
B) the basal ganglia
C) the amygdala
D) the hippocampus

Question 27

Which statement is TRUE?

A) Animals must have both a central and peripheral nervous system in order to be able to learn.
B) Animals with larger brains have higher intelligence than animals with smaller brains.
C) Only vertebrates have both a central and a peripheral nervous system.
D) The cerebral cortex takes up about the same percentage of total brain volume in humans as it does in other vertebrates.

Question 28

Which statement is TRUE?

A) There are more neurons than glia in the brain.
B) Neurons are all the same shape and size.
C) Some neurons have no axons.
D) Glia are not necessary for normal brain functioning.

Question 29

The LARGEST structure of the human brain is the:

A) cerebral cortex.
B) frontal lobe.
C) cerebellum.
D) temporal lobe.

Question 30

Which part of the brain helps regulate autonomic functions such as breathing?

A) the cerebellum
B) the brainstem
C) the hippocampus
D) the temporal lobe

Question 31

The structure that sits at the base of the brain is known as the:

A) cerebral cortex.
B) parietal lobe.
C) brainstem.
D) frontal lobe.

Question 32

Which part(s) of a neuron transmit(s) information to other neurons?

A) dendrites
B) the cell body
C) the axon
D) glia

Question 33

Which brain structure receives sensory information from the peripheral nervous system and relays this information to other parts of the brain?

A) the thalamus
B) the basal ganglia
C) the amygdala
D) the hippocampus

Question 34

What is the study of similarities and differences between organisms' brains?

A) conditioning
B) comparative neuroanatomy
C) neuropsychology
D) cognitive development

Question 35

Which brain structure is involved in helping one learn the coordinated movements necessary for learning to ride a bike?

A) the temporal lobe
B) the brainstem
C) the thalamus
D) the cerebellum

Question 36

If one falls and injures the back of one's head, which effect would MOST likely be experienced?

A) difficulty understanding speech
B) difficulty seeing a friend's face
C) difficulty remembering names
D) difficulty feeling the difference between silk and sandpaper

Question 37

Mary is having trouble hearing her friends when they speak to her. Which part of her brain might be damaged?

A) the frontal lobe
B) the parietal lobe
C) the temporal lobe
D) the occipital lobe

Question 38

What is the usual function of dendrites?

A) receiving signals from other neurons
B) transmitting information to other neurons
C) transferring oxygen from the blood to neurons
D) wrapping neurons in myelin

Question 39

While sitting at the theater, Jonathan feels something crawling up his leg. He is able to realize it before he gets stung. Which part of the cerebral cortex is responsible for this realization?

A) the temporal lobe
B) the parietal lobe
C) the brainstem
D) the frontal lobe

Question 40

The ability of worms and jellyfish to learn is notable because they each have:

A) a CNS but not a PNS.
B) no recognizable brain.
C) no neurons.
D) very large brainstems.

Question 41

A doctor is concerned that Martha has dysfunction involving the axons of her brain. Which neuroimaging technique would BEST be able to detect this problem?

A) positron emission tomography (PET)
B) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
C) computed tomography (CT) scan
D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Question 42

Imagine a parent who has two children. The first child has a very large forehead, and the second child's head is very large at the back. According to the system of phrenology, the first child would excel at _____ and the second would excel at _____.

A) planning and performing actions; remembering
B) remembering; seeing the world
C) seeing the world; planning and performing actions
D) planning and performing actions; seeing the world

Question 43

Phrenology was a systematic study of the brain that was pursued by:

A) Galen.
B) Aristotle.
C) Paul Broca.
D) Franz Joseph Gall.

Question 44

Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which _____; this interferes with neural function, leading to jerky muscle movements and impaired coordination, as well as problems with vision and speech.

A) glia aren't necessary for function
B) interneurons are not able to connect two or more neurons
C) the myelin coating of axons degenerates
D) dendrites are unable to receive signals

Question 45

Which brain imaging method is especially useful for studying the connections between brain regions?

A) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
B) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
C) computed tomography (CT)
D) positron emission tomography (PET)

Question 46

Which statement is an example of a reflexive behavior?

A) Pavlov's dog salivating in response to a sound that has predicted food
B) a dog that has learned to sit to obtain a treat
C) a newborn sucking when encountering a nipple
D) a rat pressing a bar to obtain a drink of water

Question 47

Which imaging method is particularly useful for physicians trying to assess brain injury, as well as diseases such as multiple sclerosis that specifically target axons?

A) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
B) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
C) computed tomography (CT)
D) positron emission tomography (PET)

Question 48

What would occur if the sensory fibers in one's arm were cut?

A) One would still automatically jerk one's hand away from a hot stove.
B) One would have a limited range of motion in one's arm.
C) One would not be able to move one's arm at all.
D) One would not be able to feel a sharp poke on one's arm.

Question 49

Most sensory information enters the brain through the:

A) thalamus.
B) occipital lobe.
C) primary motor cortex.
D) primary sensory cortices.

Question 50

Which cells provide functional and structural support to neurons?

A) pyramidal cells
B) stellate cells
C) interneurons
D) glia

Question 51

Incoming sensory information is passed from the thalamus to the:

A) spinal cord.
B) muscles.
C) primary motor cortex.
D) primary sensory cortices.

Question 52

The study of the relationship between the size and shape of different parts of people's skulls and their personalities and abilities is called:

A) equipotentiality.
B) comparative brain anatomy.
C) phrenology.
D) neuropsychology.

Question 53

What is the other name for the cell body?

A) synapse
B) soma
C) axon
D) dendrite

Question 54

Which neuroimaging technique uses changes in magnetic fields to generate images of internal brain structure?

A) single-cell recording
B) lesions
C) computed tomography (CT)
D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Question 55

If one puts a hand on a hot stove, one will automatically pull it away before realizing what has been done. This is an example of a(n) _____ behavior.

A) reflexive
B) voluntary
C) learned
D) intentional

Question 56

The Bell-Magendie law:

A) applies to the brainstem but not to the spinal cord.
B) proposes one nerve system for sensing and another for responding.
C) applies to the central nervous system but not to the peripheral nervous system.
D) proposes that the brain is divided into two hemispheres.

Question 57

Many basic reflexes:

A) do not require the brain's involvement.
B) use only the sensory neurons.
C) involve the pumping of spirits or fluids into the muscles.
D) end with input to the sensory neurons.

Question 58

When one opens a door, which part of the brain is responsible for sending signals to the arm muscles, causing one to open the door?

A) V1 (visual cortex)
B) the frontal cortex
C) M1 (motor cortex)
D) the basal ganglia and the cerebellum

Question 59

The primary sensory cortices:

A) process the outputs that control movements.
B) are responsible for processing the more complex characteristics of stimuli.
C) are specialized for processing particular sensory stimuli.
D) send most of their output to the peripheral nervous system.

Question 60

According to the Bell-Magendie law of neural specialization:

A) reflexes are caused by spirits flowing from the brain into the muscles.
B) the brain plays a major role in reflexes like the "knee-jerk" response to a doctor's rubber mallet.
C) the spinal cord has one nerve system for sensing and another nerve system for responding.
D) spinal reflexes can be combined into complex sequences of movements that are the basis of all behavior.

Question 61

If a pot of water is hotter than expected, it could produce a withdrawal response of the hand. This response was studied by Charles Sherrington and is known as a(n):

A) peripheral response.
B) autonomic response.
C) reflex arc.
D) neural response.

Question 62

Molecules on the surface of the postsynaptic cell that bind with and respond to neurotransmitters are called:

A) synapses.
B) receptors.
C) neuromodulators.
D) glia.

Question 63

An event-related potential (ERP) is:

A) the average of many EEGs across repetitions of an event.
B) a measure of the amount oxygen being used by brain structures.
C) a measure of the activity of a single neuron.
D) the electrical activity emitted from the scalp, recorded on a single trial.

Question 64

Most neurons can produce and release _____ neurotransmitter(s) and can receive _____ neurotransmitter(s).

A) many different; many different
B) only one; only one
C) only one; many different
D) many different; only one

Question 65

Neurotransmitters are:

A) chemical substances that carry messages between neurons.
B) the part of a neuron that receives signals from other neurons.
C) types of neurons that connect other neurons together.
D) types of neurons that have pyramid-shaped cell bodies.

Question 66

Which parts of the brain help translate the high-level plans into concrete sets of movements?

A) the frontal lobes and the temporal lobe
B) the basal ganglia and the cerebellum
C) the cerebral cortex and the brainstem
D) the primary motor cortex and the primary somatosensory cortex

Question 67

Which part of the brain is involved in the high-level planning of the movements involved in picking up and using a pencil?

A) the frontal lobes
B) the basal ganglia
C) the cerebellum
D) the brainstem

Question 68

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI):

A) directly measures neural activity.
B) usually picks up more areas of brain activation than does positron emission tomography (PET).
C) requires injecting radioactive materials into the participant's bloodstream.
D) is faster than positron emission tomography (PET).

Question 69

Which neuroimaging technique uses electrodes to record electrical activity emitted from a person's scalp?

A) positron emission tomography (PET)
B) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
C) electroencephalography (EEG)
D) computed tomography (CT)

Question 70

If a researcher uses an EEG to measure the brain's response to a visual stimulus, neurons other than those that respond to visual stimuli will also be active. How do researchers determine which neurons are responding only to the visual stimulus?

A) They present the visual stimulus at a very high intensity.
B) They measure the activity of just one neuron at a time.
C) They make sure to present only a visual stimulus and nothing else.
D) They take the average of several EEGs.

Question 71

The primary motor cortex is located in the _____ lobe.

A) frontal
B) parietal
C) occipital
D) temporal

Question 72

Neurotransmitters that affect activity in entire brain areas, rather than just at a single synapse, are called:

A) neuromodulators.
B) refractory transmitters.
C) glia.
D) reuptake transmitters.

Question 73

In comparison to the fMRI and the PET, the EEG technique:

A) is less expensive.
B) gives less precise information about rapid changes in the brain.
C) has better spatial precision.
D) is better at measuring metabolic activity in the brain.

Question 74

In functional neuroimaging, a difference image is used for determining:

A) how long it takes a person to complete a memory task.
B) what percentage of the brain is being used at any given moment.
C) how much neural activity has changed relative to a baseline.
D) how much neural activity occurs while a person is relaxed.

Question 75

The basic idea behind functional neuroimaging is that:

A) researchers can learn about brain structures by removing them and observing any changes in behavior.
B) brain structures change color when they are active.
C) structures that are more active use more oxygen.
D) structures that are more active use less oxygen.

Question 76

Most synapses are between the:

A) axons of the presynaptic and the postsynaptic neurons.
B) dendrites of the presynaptic and the postsynaptic neurons.
C) axon of the presynaptic neuron and the dendrite of the postsynaptic neuron.
D) dendrite of the presynaptic neuron and the axon of the postsynaptic neuron.

Question 77

After a neuron fires, there is a brief period during which it is unable to fire again. What is this period called?

A) refractory
B) inactivation
C) postsynaptic
D) reuptake

Question 78

Inactivation and reuptake are mechanisms for:

A) inhibiting neurons from responding.
B) removing dead neurons from the brain.
C) increasing the amount of neurotransmitter that is released.
D) clearing neurotransmitters from the synapse.

Question 79

What is the name of the narrow gap across which neurons pass chemical messages to each other?

A) the axon
B) the dendrite
C) the synapse
D) the cell body

Question 80

The motor cortex (M1) sends its output signals to the:

A) frontal lobes.
B) basal ganglia.
C) cerebellum.
D) brainstem.