Deck 1: Online Practice Questions

Question 1

Most of our behavior is _____ of brain activity, rather than a basic function.

A)an emergent property
B)the cause of
C)an unrelated consequence
D)independent

Answer 1

A

Question 2

A guiding principal for understanding which functions the brain acquired over time is that they were at one time _____.

A)impossible
B)hard-wired
C)adaptive
D)random

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Diffusion tensor imaging relies on measuring the diffusion of _____ within the brain.

A)fat
B)water
C)amino acids
D)helium

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which technique would be most appropriate to measure many long-distance connections in the human brain?

A)functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
B)magnetoencephalography (MEG)
C)positron emission tomography (PET)
D)diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)

Question 5

Which non-invasive technique passively records magnetic fields generated as a byproduct of neural activity?

A)functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
B)magnetoencephalography (MEG)
C)positron emission tomography (PET)
D)diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)

Question 6

Which technique records electrical activity from the scalp?

A)functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
B)electroencephalography
C)positron emission tomography (PET)
D)magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Question 7

A major problem with all correlational methods is that they cannot identify:

A)cause and effect
B)differences between groups of people
C)brain regions active while performing a task
D)which brain region has the most activation while performing a task

Question 8

Which technique is the least invasive to the volunteer?

A)transcranial magnetic stimulation
B)microelectrode recording
C)intraoperative mapping
D)microdialysis recording

Question 9

Which technique requires direct access to the brain?

A)functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
B)microelectrode recording
C)magnetoencephalography (MEG)
D)transcranial magnetic stimulation

Question 10

The primary difference between TMS and tDCS is that TMS sends a(n) _____pulse through the scalp while tDCS uses a(n) _____ pulse.

A)magnetic; electric
B)weak; strong
C)electric; magnetic
D)slow; fast

Question 11

Three general survival problems that must be solved by all brains include homeostasis, reproduction, and:

A)sleep
B)feeding
C)agonism
D)mating

Question 12

Seeking out water is part of which general survival function?

A)reproduction
B)homeostasis
C)agonism
D)feeding

Question 13

The key feature of scientific hypotheses is that they are:

A)quantitative
B)free of jargon
C)written down
D)testable

Question 14

When a researcher only seeks out evidence in support of a particular hypothesis, they are succumbing to:

A)affective bias
B)agonism
C)belief bias
D)confirmation bias

Question 15

Peer review can help correct which cognitive bias?

A)belief bias
B)availability heuristic
C)confirmation bias
D)all of the above

Question 16

The order of processing sensory information in the brain goes from:

A)sim ple to complex
B)front to back
C)slow to fast
D)fast to slow

Question 17

One proposed theory of consciousness is that _____, rather than linear processing, is/are critical for our consciousness awareness.

A)connections between neurons
B)feedback loops
C)mind wandering
D)long-term memories

Question 18

Evidence for differences in types of long-term memory was most clearly demonstrated by:

A)transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)studies
B)lesion studies
C)correlational studies
D)microelectrode studies

Question 19

Rather than storing complex details about items we encounter, the brain allows us to remember items by storing:

A)relationships between the items
B)only the most important items
C)the basic idea, or gist of the items
D)a small subset of each items details

Question 20

The brain solves complex tasks such as language processing by recruiting:

A)a large network of connected regions
B)unused regions usually devoted to simpler tasks
C)a large contiguous region
D)a few isolated regions

Question 21

Unlike deliberate decision making, emotional processing is optimized for _____ decisions.

A)slow
B)irrational
C)quick
D)a complex

Question 22

Building up a mental model or Theory of Mind for other people's mental states could help in all situations except:

A)understanding non-verbal communication
B)retrieving a book from a shelf
C)trying to outsmart a rival
D)living in complex social groups

Question 23

What aspect of the brain has made finding effective treatment for mental illness so difficult?

A)its location within the skull
B)its size
C)its variability across individuals
D)its complexity

Question 24

Understanding of how the brain operates on a small scale has lead to develop of the very successful _____ class of algorithms.

A)neural network
B)molecular
C)synaptic
D)associative network

Question 25

From a neuroscience perspective, estimating the percentage of blame to assign to a person vs. biology is intractable because:

A)behavior can be mitigated by biological flaws
B)behavior is totally independent of biological flaws
C)behavior is inextricably linked with biology
D)all of the above

Question 26

The typical number of connections a neuron makes with neighboring neurons is:

A)1000000"
B)10000"
C)1000"
D)100000"

Question 27

The field that seeks to understand the brain function underlying human thoughts and behaviors is called:

A)neurosurgery"
B)sociology"
C)immunology"
D)cognitive neuroscience"

Question 28

Which of the following abilities is not an emergent property of the brain?

A)turning your head to face a noise"
B)They are all emergent properties"
C)recalling a friend's name"
D)picking up a piece of paper"

Question 29

A neuroscientist would be interested in learning how the brain:

A)understands speech"
B)regulates body temperature"
C)remembers new information"
D)all of the above"

Question 30

How can the mere thought of giving a speech produce chemical changes in the brain?

A)Thinking about the future recruits special chemical signaling mechanisms"
B)Thoughts are the immediate result of the chemical signaling between two neurons"
C)Thinking itself is grounded in a series of chemical changes"
D)Fear of an upcoming event causes chemical changes in the brain"

Question 31

The desire to move away from the edge of a steep cliff has clear survival value. This tendency reflects the long process of psychological:

A)motivation"
B)assimilation"
C)confirmation"
D)adaptation"

Question 32

Just like blood pressure and eye movements, ______ processes underlie more complex behavior and thinking.

A)uncoordinated"
B)independent"
C)physical"
D)immaterial"

Question 33

One modern technique for identifying individual neurons within brain tissues requires inserting _____ into the neurons so they will fluoresce under a specific color of light.

A)somas"
B)nanomaterials"
C)genes"
D)neurotransmitters"

Question 34

We can assume that a given neuron is associated with controlling eye movements if the neuron has outputs connected to:

A)the visual cortex"
B)the brainstem"
C)the occipital lobe"
D)the muscles surrounding the eye"

Question 35

A neuron has inputs connected to the auditory region of the brain. We can assume that this neuron plays a role in:

A)creating speech"
B)auditory perception"
C)reading"
D)visual perception"

Question 36

To follow the connections to and from a given neuron, scientists use chemical _____.

A)diffusors"
B)tracers"
C)viruses"
D)tensors"

Question 37

A scientist wants to use a noninvasive technique to compare neural tracts between two groups of people. The scientist will likely use:

A)CT scans"
B)microelectrodes"
C)microdialysis probes"
D)diffusion tensor imaging"

Question 38

Microelectrodes, positron emission tomography (PET), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are all examples of _______ methods of studying the brain.

A)stimulation"
B)connectional"
C)correlational"
D)lesion"

Question 39

A neuroscientist wants to study how different regions of the brain respond to different images of spiders. The best method to use is:

A)voxel-based morphometry"
B)functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)"
C)diffusion tensor imaging"
D)positron emission tomography (PET)"

Question 40

A person with epilepsy is undergoing surgery. A neuroscientist may implant _____ during the procedure in order to study the electrical activity of neurons.

A)glucose"
B)microelectrodes"
C)voltammetry probes"
D)microdialysis probes"

Question 41

A laboratory animal subject is displaying signs of increased levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter. A neuroscientist may use _____ to sample the concentration of neurotransmitters directly from brain tissue.

A)electroencephalography"
B)magnetoencephalography"
C)voltammetry probes"
D)microdialysis probes"

Question 42

The best way to compare the thickness of cortex between clinical groups would be:

A)microelectrodes"
B)voxel-based morphometry"
C)positron emission tomography (PET)"
D)magnetoencephalography (MEG)"

Question 43

MRI relies on the reorientation of which atom?

A)oxygen"
B)helium"
C)nitrogen"
D)hydrogen"

Question 44

MRI uses magnetic pulses and _____ to generate scans of body tissue

A)x-rays"
B)electricity"
C)ultrasonic vibrations"
D)radio signals"

Question 45

Using MRI, variations in tissue can be detected according to the way in which ____ absorb and return energy.

A)photons"
B)protons"
C)electrons"
D)neutrons"

Question 46

A soldier has shrapnel imbedded in his leg, but needs to have an image taken of his brain. Due to safety concerns, a doctor would likely AVOID using:

A)positron emission tomography (PET)"
B)magnetoencephalography (MEG)"
C)MRI"
D)microdialysis probes"

Question 47

When a region of the brain is activated during a task, we have established a _____ relationship.

A)causal"
B)TRUE"
C)correlational"
D)independent"

Question 48

A traumatic injury, such as a blow to the head, may result in brain:

A)tumors"
B)cancer"
C)viruses"
D)lesions"

Question 49

A blockage of blood supply to the brain might result in a:

A)lesion"
B)tumor"
C)heart attack"
D)stroke"

Question 50

The following can damage areas of the brain:

A)traumatic injuries"
B)infections from viruses"
C)degenerative diseases"
D)all of the above"

Question 51

A lesion study in the 1860s led to the discovery of this region of the brain, linked to the production of language:

A)the amygdala"
B)Broca's area"
C)the pons"
D)the hippocampus"

Question 52

A scientist interested in studying ____ may use a large-group lesion study.

A)addiction"
B)fear"
C)empathy"
D)any of the above"

Question 53

A patient with a lesion in two areas of the brain is unable to recognize the faces of loved ones. We should conclude that:

A)at least one region is not involved in facial recognition"
B)at least one region may be involved in facial recognition"
C)both regions are critical for face processing"
D)neither region is critical for face processing"

Question 54

When healthy volunteers have their brain stimulated with ____, they can experience involuntary movement of the left hand.

A)positron emission tomography (PET)"
B)transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)"
C)functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)"
D)magnetoencephalography"

Question 55

Multiple sessions of transcranial magnetic stimulation can help patients with:

A)anxiety"
B)obsessive-compulsive disorder"
C)depression"
D)epilepsy"

Question 56

A form of noninvasive brain stimulation involving the use of a positively charged cathode and a negatively charged anode is called:

A)repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)"
B)transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)"
C)microelectrode"
D)transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)"

Question 57

Stimulation studies are useful because they can provide a _____ link between brain activity and function.

A)positive"
B)causal"
C)negative"
D)correlative"

Question 58

A bird searches nearby trees for shelter. This searching is determined by which survival function?

A)agonism"
B)reproduction"
C)fear"
D)homeostasis"

Question 59

A lion fends off hyenas after killing an antelope. This behavior is determined by which survival function?

A)homeostasis"
B)agonism"
C)reproduction"
D)none of the above"

Question 60

A man believes that all foreigners are unintelligent. Seeking out websites with similar opinions and ignoring information that contradicts his opinion demonstrates which cognitive bias?

A)affect heuristic"
B)belief bias"
C)availability heuristic"
D)confirmation bias"

Question 61

A patient is initially diagnosed with influenza, but later tests indicate that the patient may be suffering from strep throat. The patient continues to believe she has influenza. This is an example of:

A)availability heuristic"
B)anchoring bias"
C)affect heuristic"
D)belief bias"

Question 62

If people reject a logically valid argument merely because the conclusion is difficult to accept, they are exhibiting:

A)affect heuristic"
B)belief bias"
C)anchoring bias"
D)confirmation bias"

Question 63

When a scientist makes an observation, forms a hypothesis, generates specific and testable predictions, and performs experimental testing, she is using the:

A)correlation test"
B)scientific method"
C)principle of parsimony"
D)peer review process"

Question 64

When the scientist asserts, "If our hypothesis is true, we should be able to observe differences in behavior," she is making a(n):

A)observation"
B)experiment"
C)theory"
D)testable prediction"

Question 65

Successful use of the scientific method to conduct an experiment requires the use of:

A)untestable hypotheses"
B)intuition alone"
C)a confirmation bias"
D)repeatable measurements"

Question 66

Confirming earlier findings by repeating the same experiment multiple times is called:

A)peer review"
B)replication"
C)generalization"
D)statistics"

Question 67

Seeking outside assessment on experimental results is part of the _____ process.

A)progression"
B)peer review"
C)replication"
D)falsification"

Question 68

Humans have a top-heavy nervous system, but other animals, such as starfish and jellyfish, have nervous systems that are:

A)unevenly distributed on one side of their body"
B)bilateral"
C)distributed throughout their bodies"
D)bottom-heavy"

Question 69

Which of the following are NOT bilateral organisms?

A)worms"
B)sponges"
C)birds"
D)mollusks"

Question 70

Specialized cells that process information in the brain are called:

A)somas"
B)neurons"
C)axons"
D)dendrites"

Question 71

The central nervous system is made up of the brain and:

A)neurotransmitters"
B)spinal cord"
C)nerves"
D)blood vessels"

Question 72

Electrical pulses produced by neurons travel along specialized extensions called:

A)synapses"
B)gray matter"
C)dendrites"
D)axons"

Question 73

The brain's ability to change and retain changes is called:

A)modification"
B)reconfiguration"
C)encoding"
D)plasticity"

Question 74

A woman is born in France and learns the French language, but at age 30 she moves to Germany and begins to understand and speak German. This is an example of:

A)adaptation"
B)plasticity"
C)homeostasis"
D)flexibility"

Question 75

While taking a walk, your eyes focus on a passing car. Your eyes take this information and convert it into:

A)perceptions"
B)axons"
C)chemical messengers"
D)electrical signals"

Question 76

Before you can "hear" the lyrics of your favorite song, the pattern of vibrations in the air must be converted into:

A)receptors"
B)action potentials"
C)memories"
D)pressure"

Question 77

The puzzle of figuring out which sights, sounds, and smells belong to the same object in the external world is called the ____ problem.

A)plasticity"
B)binding"
C)unity"
D)multisensory"

Question 78

A good deal of what that brain believes it is experiencing depends on its:

A)neural outputs"
B)proximity to the event"
C)expectations"
D)levels of serotonin"

Question 79

Routine daily activities like brushing your teeth involve ____ processing in the brain.

A)subconscious"
B)complicated"
C)simple"
D)automatic"

Question 80

Your brain controls:

A)body temperature"
B)sleeping cycles"
C)running stride"
D)all of the above"