Question 1

Among its other functions, the amygdala seems to serve as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)   important relay station between the eye and occipital cortex.
B)   storage location for information received from the skin.
C)   "emotional evaluator" or threat detector.
D)   "index" for locating memories in the brain. C

Question 2

Lisa has recently suffered a brain injury. Her symptoms include deficits in coordination and interpretation of pain. Which structure is most likely damaged?

Accepted Answer

A)   primary motor area
B)   midbrain
C)   forebrain
D)   hindbrain B

Question 3

Once a cell fires, the part of a neuron that transmits information to another location is the

Accepted Answer

A)   dendrite.
B)   cell body.
C)   axon.
D)   nucleus. C

Question 4

Cells detecting the boundary of a surface are subject to less lateral inhibition than cells detecting the center of the same surface. This leads to an effect called

Accepted Answer

A)   lateral enhancement.
B)   edge enhancement.
C)   the boundary rule.
D)   the all-or-none law.

Question 5

A neuron's initial, internal response to an incoming signal can vary in size. The ultimate, external response of the cell, however, does not vary in size. If the signal is sent, it is always of the same magnitude. This effect is called the

Accepted Answer

A)   whole-firing potential.
B)   all-or-none law.
C)   uniform response law.
D)   threshold potential.

Question 6

Some researchers explain Capgras syndrome as

Accepted Answer

A)   a simple failure of visual recognition.
B)   the result of a disconnection between a cognitive appraisal and a sense of familiarity.
C)   a subtype of schizophrenia.
D)   a failure of long-term memory, because patients cannot remember what their own close family members look like.

Question 7

Compare and contrast the use of fMRI and TMS and describe their application in psychology. What sort of information does each approach give us? Which technique can be used to make causal statements about the link between brain activity and behavior?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the use of fMRI...

Question 8

Neuron A communicates with neuron B. The _____ of neuron A forms a synapse with the _____ of neuron B.

Accepted Answer

A)   cell body; soma
B)   axon terminal; axon terminal
C)   axon terminal; dendrite
D)   soma; dendrite

Question 9

You are at the zoo watching a tiger sleep. It suddenly awakes and lurches in your direction. Spatial position would NOT provide information about the tiger's

Accepted Answer

A)   form.
B)   color.
C)   motion patterns.
D)   dangerous nature.

Question 10

The cortex makes up the surface of what brain structure?

Accepted Answer

A)   hindbrain
B)   midbrain
C)   thalamus
D)   forebrain

Question 11

Human brains have a distinct division-of-labor strategy. Each task is achieved as a result of multiple brain areas working together. But the work of the various parts of the brain must be compiled into a finished whole. The issue of how this reassembly works is referred to as the

Accepted Answer

A)   binding problem.
B)   Humpty Dumpty dilemma.
C)   reassembly law.
D)   ultimate puzzle.

Question 12

Capgras syndrome suggests there are two parts to recognition. These parts are

Accepted Answer

A)   factual and familiar.
B)   factual and emotional.
C)   visual and factual.
D)   visual and auditory.

Question 13

The primary motor projection area forms a "map" of the body, and the projections control movement to specific areas of the body. What is the variation in the amount of cortical tissue dedicated to different parts of the body based on?

Accepted Answer

A)   the size of the body part
B)   the distance of the body part from the brain
C)   the precision of movement for the body part
D)   The cortical area does not vary; it is the same for all body parts.

Question 14

A researcher has identified the receptive field for a neuron and has determined that the receptive field has a center-surround organization. If the researcher were to shine light into the entire receptive field, including both the center and the surrounding area, we would expect the neuron to

Accepted Answer

A)   continue firing at its resting rate.
B)   increase its firing rate.
C)   decrease its firing rate.
D)   cease firing.

Question 15

The primary motor projection area is located

Accepted Answer

A)   in the cerebellum.
B)   in the occipital cortex.
C)   toward the rear of the frontal lobe.
D)   in the midbrain.

Question 16

If a researcher applies mild electric current to a specific area of an animal's right hemisphere primary motor projection area, which of the following is likely to happen?

Accepted Answer

A)   a specific movement of a body part on the right side of the animal
B)   a specific movement of a body part on the left side of the animal
C)   a chaotic movement of the entire animal
D)   no movement at all

Question 17

It has been argued that the visual system relies on a "divide and conquer" strategy. What does this mean? Provide one example of the organization of the visual system that provides support for your conclusion.

Accepted Answer

The answer of It has been argued that the visual...

Question 18

Mike has damage to his hindbrain. He is likely to experience problems with which set of behaviors?

Accepted Answer

A)   rhythm of breathing, level of alertness, and posture
B)   complex thought and long-term memory
C)   planned motor activity
D)   perception and visual imagery

Question 19

The lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) acts as

Accepted Answer

A)   a way station between the eye and the occipital cortex, located in the thalamus.
B)   an important area in the amygdala, associated with long-term memory.
C)   a relay station to the amygdala.
D)   the location in the temporal cortex where auditory information is stored.

Question 20

Researchers using fMRI find activity in the fusiform face area (FFA) when participants are viewing faces. This means that FFA

Accepted Answer

A)   is responsible for recognizing faces.
B)   is necessary to recognizing faces.
C)   activity is correlated with recognizing faces.
D)   has no role in recognizing faces.

Exam 2: The Neural Basis for Cognition