Preview Extract
Module 4—Incredible Nervous System
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The new area of study that maps the paths of cognitive processes in the brain is called:
a. behavioral neuroscience
b. psychoanalysis
c. cognitive neuroscience
d. cognitive psychobiology
Answer: C
2. Dr. Fassid studies the relationship between cognitive abilities and neural activity. Dr.
Fassid is an expert in:
a. cognitive psychobiology
b. clinical pharmacology
c. cognitive neuroscience
d. behavioral neuroscience
Answer: C
3. Upon conception, the father and the mother each contribute ____ to their offspring.
a. 23 chromosomes
b. 2 chromosomes
c. hundreds of chromosomes
d. 23 pairs of chromosomes
Answer: A
4. When a sperm from a man fertilizes the egg of a woman, the result is a ____ and it consists
of ____ pairs of chromosomes.
a. zygote; 46
b. gene; 46
c. phenotype; 46
d. zygote; 23
Answer: D
5. Chromosomes consist of:
a. RNA
b. sperm
c. DNA
d. phenotypes
Answer: C
6. A ____ is a specific segment on the long strand of DNA.
a. gene
b. zygote
c. chromosome
d. phenotype
Answer: A
7. Which of the following statements is incorrect?
a. The father’s sperm contains 23 chromosomes.
b. A zygote results when an egg is fertilized.
c. DNA is made up of large strands of chromosomes.
d. The zygote is the largest human cell.
Answer: C
8. Which statement is most accurate in describing the order from smallest to largest?
a. zygote, genes, DNA, chromosomes
b. genes, DNA, chromosomes, zygote
c. DNA, zygote, genes, chromosomes
d. DNA, genes, chromosomes, zygote
Answer: B
9. This structure can best be described as being made up of four chemicals that form a
chemical alphabet.
a. Fragile X
b. chromosome
c. zygote
d. DNA
Answer: D
10. Genes provide instructions for making:
a. protein
b. genomes
c. DNA
d. chromosomes
Answer: A
11. Loi believes that science has not identified the location of any human genes. Is Loi right?
a. Yes—Project Genome is scheduled to begin in 2009
b. No—Project Genome has identified all genes
c. No—since 1980, many human genes have been identified
d. Yes—scientists have expressed disinterest in genetic research
Answer: B
12. Of the following, which is the best way to think about Project Genome?
a. It is like making a blueprint of genes.
b. Project Genome is like mixing chemicals together to form a new chemical.
c. It is like calling all the phone numbers in a telephone directory.
d. Project Genome is much like baking a cake and forgetting to add flour.
Answer: A
13. There are a total of about ____ human genes located on the 23 pairs of chromosomes.
a. 100–200
b. 3,000–7,000
c. 11,000–15,000
d. 20,000–25,000
Answer: D
14. A gene that has more than one version is called a:
a. polymorphic gene
b. zygote
c. genome
d. chromosome
Answer: A
15. What type of gene is expressed even if it is paired with a recessive gene?
a. polymorphic gene
b. zygote
c. genome
d. dominant
Answer: D
16. The gene for brown eyes is _____; the gene for blue eyes is ______.
a. recessive; zygotic
b. dominant; recessive
c. recessive; dominant
d. recessive; phenotypic
Answer: B
17. You inherited a gene for brown eyes from your father, but a gene for blue eyes from your
mother. What color are your eyes?
a. blues
b. brown
c. green
d. impossible to predict
Answer: B
18. A common characteristic in cases of Fragile X syndrome is:
a. visual disturbances
b. a susceptibility to violent behavior
c. mental retardation
d. cardiovascular abnormalities
Answer: C
19. The chromosomal defect that can cause physical abnormalities and mental retardation is
called:
a. Fragile X syndrome
b. anencephaly
c. aphasia
d. Down syndrome
Answer: A
20. Concepts such as evolution and survival of the fittest are most associated with:
a. Roger Sperry
b. Charles Darwin
c. Sigmund Freud
d. B. F. Skinner
Answer: B
21. Which statement is not consistent with Darwin’s view of evolution?
a. Different species arouse from a common ancestor.
b. Humans and chimps share at least 98% of their DNA.
c. Present-day humans descended from a creature that split off from apes.
d. Humans belong to their own family tree.
Answer: D
22. According to the theory of evolution:
a. different species arose from different ancestors
b. humans belong to their own family tree
c. present-day humans descended from a creature related to apes
d. humans and chimps share only 1% of their DNA
Answer: C
23. Sasha has a genetic error. She has specific physical features, such as a wide tongue, and
she is mentally retarded. Upon examining her chromosomes, we would find an extra 21st
chromosome. What disorder does Sasha have?
a. fragile X syndrome
b. Down syndrome
c. anencephaly
d. Alzheimer’s disease
Answer: B
24. The difference in intelligence between humans and chimpanzees is due to:
a. a higher portion of neurons covered with myelin sheath
b. more sophisticated neurons
c. larger cell bodies found in neurons
d. more connections between neurons
Answer: D
25. Two mechanisms are believed to be responsible for the evolution of the human brain.
They are:
a. genetic mutation and natural selection
b. genetic mutation and mitosis
c. genetic codominance and incomplete dominance
d. natural selection and recessive genes
Answer: A
26. Genes that are selected because they aid in the survival of the species are called _______.
Those genes that prevent survival are called _______.
a. mutated genes; recessive genes
b. dominant genes; recessive genes
c. recessive genes; dominant genes
d. adaptive genes; maladaptive genes
Answer: D
27. The doctor explained to the patient’s family that the pictures of their loved one’s brain
were normal. She passed radio frequencies through the brain. Which method was used by the
doctor to study her patient’s brain?
a. MRI scan
b. EEG
c. PET scan
d. ADHD scan
Answer: A
28. Which technique uses radio frequencies to study the structure of the brain?
a. MRI scan
b. SET scan
c. PET scan
d. the stereotaxic procedure
Answer: A
29. As a physician, you need to have a very detailed view of the structure of your patient’s
brain. The method most appropriate given your needs is:
a. SET scan
b. MRI scan
c. PET scan
d. EEG
Answer: B
30. Your grandmother is having problems with headaches. She goes to have a test and you
accompany her. She lies down with her head in the center of a large “donut.” You hear a dull
drumming sound as the test proceeds. Your grandmother is having a(n):
a. SET scan
b. MRI scan
c. PET scan
d. EEG
Answer: B
31. The family doctor is concerned about the complaints of eight-year-old Tommy. The
doctor would like to run some tests to determine the structure of Tommy’s brain. Which of
the following tests would be most appropriate?
a. SET scan
b. MRI scan
c. PET scan
d. fMRI scan
Answer: B
32. Dr. Fox wishes to determine what area of the brain is involved in listening to classical
music. What type of brain scan would you recommend that he use that would allow a study of
brain function?
a. MRI scan
b. SET scan
c. x-ray scan
d. fMRI scan
Answer: D
33. fMRI is to ____ as MRI is to ____.
a. structure; function
b. function; structure
c. organization; function
d. x-ray; gamma ray
Answer: B
34. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) differs from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
in that a PET scan:
a. studies the structure of the brain
b. studies activity in the brain
c. uses radio frequencies
d. identifies spinal cord injuries
Answer: B
35. Ivan is having his brain scanned. As the machine is working, he is asked to read words on
a screen. He is most likely having a(n):
a. MRI scan
b. SET scan
c. fMRI scan
d. x-ray scan
Answer: C
36. What is the main advantage of fMRI over PET scans?
a. PET scans can cause brain damage
b. cost
c. fMRI can be done with the person awake
d. fMRI does not require injection of a radioactive solution
Answer: D
37. Positron emission tomography (PET scan) is a technique used to:
a. transplant fetal brain tissue
b. repair damaged neurons in the spinal cord
c. study the function of brain areas
d. perform a frontal lobotomy
Answer: C
38. Which method of studying the living brain involves injecting a slightly radioactive
solution into the blood and measuring the amount of radiation absorbed by brain cells?
a. SET scan
b. MRI scan
c. PET scan
d. EEG
Answer: C
39. MRI scan is to PET scan as ____ is to ____.
a. radio frequencies; radioactive solution
b. radioactive solution; radio frequencies
c. x-ray; radioactive solution
d. ultrasound; x-ray
Answer: A
40. One of the reasons that PET scans can indicate brain activity is that very active neurons
absorb more:
a. radioactive solution than less active ones
b. radio frequencies than less active ones
c. magnetism than less active ones
d. ultrasound than less active ones
Answer: A
41. The two divisions of the nervous system are:
a. sympathetic division and parasympathetic division
b. somatic nervous system and central nervous system
c. autonomic nervous system and central nervous system
d. peripheral nervous system and central nervous system
Answer: D
42. What part of your nervous system do you use to correctly answer this question, which
requires deep thought?
a. central nervous system
b. somatic nervous system
c. autonomic nervous system
d. parasympathetic division
Answer: A
43. You stub your big toe on the chair leg. The pain message is first carried to the brain on
nerves that are part of the:
a. sympathetic division
b. central nervous system
c. autonomic nervous system
d. peripheral nervous system
Answer: D
44. As you take this test, you feel the texture of the pencil you are using. Nerves that carry
that sensory information from your fingers to your spinal cord are part of the:
a. sympathetic division
b. central nervous system
c. autonomic nervous system
d. peripheral nervous system
Answer: D
45. The brain and spinal cord comprise the ____ nervous system.
a. peripheral
b. sympathetic
c. central
d. primary
Answer: C
46. The central nervous system is made up of two components:
a. brain and spinal cord
b. sensory organs and afferent nerves
c. brain and efferent nerves
d. brain and somatic nerves
Answer: A
47. The somatic nervous system:
a. consists of nerves connected to either sensory receptors or to voluntary muscles
b. regulates heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and digestion
c. controls the fight-or-flight response
d. is in a constant state of homeostasis
Answer: A
48. The somatic nervous system contains:
a. sympathetic division and parasympathetic division
b. afferent and efferent fibers
c. sensory and afferent fibers
d. motor fibers and latent fibers
Answer: B
49. You’re looking at a book entitled Your Autonomic Nervous System. One of the chapter
titles is really confusing, based upon your knowledge of the autonomic nervous system.
Which chapter seems to not fit your knowledge?
a. The Sympathetic Division: Activating in Times of Stress
b. Relaxing with the Parasympathetic Division
c. The Autonomic Nervous System: You CAN Control It All!
d. The Somatic Nervous System: Part of The Peripheral Nervous System
Answer: C
50. Karen was able to live in a coma for several years even when taken off the respirator. This
is because parts of the body not under conscious control continue to function. These parts are
regulated by the:
a. central nervous system
b. autonomic nervous system
c. somatic nervous system
d. forebrain
Answer: B
51. You are videotaping a segment for a TV show that highlights funny situations and people
caught on video. Your friend is hiding in a large box, ready to jump out and scare
unsuspecting people. When the “victims” yell and scream indicating arousal, you speculate
that their ____ becomes activated.
a. sympathetic division
b. parasympathetic division
c. parietal lobe
d. cerebellum
Answer: A
52. You are about to give a speech to a group of 100 people. Your ____ division is especially
active as you notice butterflies in your stomach, a dry mouth, and sweaty palms.
a. sympathetic
b. parasympathetic
c. parietal lobe
d. cerebellum
Answer: A
53. “I’m glad that is over!” Your speech was a success. You feel your body calming down.
Your ____ is activated.
a. sympathetic division
b. parasympathetic division
c. parietal lobe
d. cerebellum
Answer: B
54. The specific part of the nervous system that is responsible for returning the body to a
relaxed state after an emergency or crisis situation is the:
a. parasympathetic division
b. somatic nervous system
c. autonomic nervous system
d. peripheral nervous system
Answer: A
55. The three main divisions of the human brain are:
a. forebrain, midbrain, cerebrain
b. topbrain, midbrain, hindbrain
c. forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain
d. neobrain, lateralbrain, medialbrain
Answer: C
56. The part of the brain that directly allows you to contemplate the answer to this question is
the:
a. hindbrain
b. midbrain
c. forebrain
d. cerebellum
Answer: C
57. Rex is an evil scientist and wants to take away humans’ ability to use language, plan, and
make decisions. What part of the brain should his newly invented “Death Ray Gun” destroy?
a. limbic system
b. reticular formation
c. thalamus
d. forebrain
Answer: D
58. You are listening to a few songs that you really like since they are very relaxing. What
part of your brain has a reward or pleasure center that is very active as you listen to the
songs?
a. Broca’s area
b. medulla
c. cerebellum
d. midbrain
Answer: D
59. In what brain area do you find the reticular formation?
a. midbrain
b. medulla
c. occipital lobe
d. cerebellum
Answer: A
60. One day in class, ten-year old Pasquel and her classmates all turned their heads at the
same time toward the windows when a large clap of thunder sounded. What brain area was
most responsible for the automatic turning of the heads toward the noise?
a. pons
b. Wernicke’s area
c. midbrain
d. somatosensory cortex
Answer: C
61. The pons:
a. controls vital reflexes such as respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure
b. coordinates voluntary movements
c. contains Purkinje cells
d. connects the spinal cord to the brain and makes chemicals important in sleep
Answer: D
62. The medulla:
a. controls vital reflexes such as respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure
b. initiates voluntary movements
c. regulates the production of speech
d. connects the spinal cord to the brain and makes chemicals important in sleep
Answer: A
63. In a fit of uncontrollable panic and depression, a person drinks a quart of hard liquor in
less than an hour. If this proves fatal, it will be because the alcohol:
a. permanently damaged synapses around muscles
b. anesthetized parts of the neocortex
c. created a neural apathy that prevented the person from defending himself against trauma
d. inhibited neurons in the medulla, causing vital life support reflexes to stop
Answer: D
64. Which of the following activities would most likely involve the cerebellum?
a. experiencing emotion
b. long-term memory
c. dancing
d. listening to a foreign language
Answer: C
65. Besides coordinating muscle movements, the cerebellum is involved in:
a. learning to perform timed motor responses
b. reading
c. initiating voluntary movements
d. writing computer programs
Answer: A
66. You are a subject in a study. Your eye is being conditioned to blink to a noise. According
to Module Four, which part of your brain is involved in this reflexive learning?
a. pons
b. medulla
c. midbrain
d. cerebellum
Answer: D
67. Mike has had too much to drink. He shows decreased coordination and has difficulty
rapidly touching a finger to his nose. Of the following brain areas, which is most responsible
for these altered behaviors?
a. pons
b. reticular formation
c. cerebellum
d. medulla
Answer: C
68. The graceful movements of a ballet dancer are due to the coordination of movement
performed by the:
a. medulla
b. cerebellum
c. hypothalamus
d. pons
Answer: B
69. The thin layer of cells that cover the surface of the forebrain is called the:
a. cortex
b. myelin sheath
c. cerebellum
d. thalamus
Answer: A
70. The human cortex is wrinkled because:
a. it is very old compared to more primitive brains
b. wrinkling increases the surface area
c. the cell body causes a constriction at the surface
d. the axons pull down on certain parts of the cortex
Answer: B
71. How is the cortex like an 18-inch television screen?
a. both a cortex and a TV screen are the result of many networks working together
b. both must be activated by electrical signals
c. when the cortex is unfolded it is about as large as an 18-inch television screen
d. both give off energy that can be detected and measured
Answer: C
72. The forebrain can be divided into lobes. Which of the following is not a lobe?
a. frontal
b. parietal
c. lateral
d. occipital
Answer: C
73. Which of the following descriptions of the lobes of the cortex is incorrect?
a. frontal—involved with personality and emotion
b. parietal—involved with motor behaviors
c. temporal—involved with hearing and speaking
d. occipital—involved with processing visual information
Answer: B
74. The brain area that most distinguishes us from animals is the:
a. thyroid
b. cerebellum
c. pons
d. cortex
Answer: D
75. Baby Theresa is described in the textbook as having a rare condition where the fetal brain
does not develop normally. What is the proper diagnosis of this condition?
a. encephalitis
b. meningitis
c. fragile X syndrome
d. anencephaly
Answer: D
76. Based on Module Four, why would a baby born with almost no brain even survive for a
couple of days?
a. The baby would still have a brain area that regulates vital reflexes.
b. The cortex would probably be intact.
c. The somatic nervous system still functions.
d. The baby’s forebrain still functions to keep the body alive.
Answer: A
77. The case of Baby Theresa provides useful insights into brain function because of the
malformation called ______.
a. fragile X syndrome
b. anencephaly
c. Broca’s aphasia
d. Parkinson’s disease
Answer: B
78. Baby Theresa suffered from _____, which prevented most of her brain from developing,
except for primitive areas.
a. fragile X syndrome
b. Down syndrome
c. anencephaly
d. split brain
Answer: C
79. Of the following functions, which is not a function of the frontal lobe?
a. performing voluntary movements
b. processing sensory information from parts of the body
c. paying attention
d. executing plans
Answer: B
80. Leo’s new roommate, Patrick, is a little odd. He seems to act strange in social situations,
shows problems with his emotions, and has difficulty making decisions. You later learn that
he has a tumor in one of his lobes and are not surprised to learn it is located in the ____ lobe.
a. sensory
b. occipital
c. temporal
d. frontal
Answer: D
81. Susan has a problem making and carrying out plans. Her doctor has diagnosed her as
having a brain tumor. Most likely, Susan’s tumor is in her:
a. frontal lobe
b. pons
c. reticular formation
d. parietal lobe
Answer: A
82. After a serious blow to the head, Hector underwent a dramatic personality change. A wellorganized, extroverted person before the accident, he no longer could plan or adjust to new
social situations. Hector would also laugh uncontrollably at inappropriate times. What part of
Hector’s brain appears to have been damaged?
a. thalamus
b. temporal lobe
c. frontal lobe
d. hippocampus
Answer: C
83. Suzy is having her brain scanned. She is asked to imagine butterflies. The doctor is
puzzled because the area of the brain expected to be very active is not. Instead, her frontal
lobe is very active. What was Suzy most likely experiencing to cause this unexpected
finding?
a. Suzy is hearing the soft humming sound of the scanning equipment.
b. She is planning her big party at her apartment this weekend.
c. She feels the texture of the sweater she is wearing.
d. She is trying to understand what the doctor is telling her.
Answer: B
84. Who probably had the first, crude form of a frontal lobotomy?
a. Baby Theresa
b. Samuel Morton
c. Egas Moniz
d. Phineas Gage
Answer: D
85. The story of Phineas Gage demonstrates that:
a. the frontal lobe seems to be involved in emotion and decision making
b. a person cannot live if the frontal lobe is damaged
c. a person cannot walk if the frontal lobe is damaged
d. the frontal lobe seems to be a large mass of tissue that does not have any particular
function
Answer: A
86. Who first used the frontal lobotomy on patients with emotional problems?
a. Egas Moniz
b. Phineas Gage
c. Charles Darwin
d. Stephen Jay Gould
Answer: A
87. Taber is researching his family tree. He is surprised to find out that in the 1940s a distant
relative had surgery in which a large portion of the frontal lobe of his cortex was removed.
What treatment did Taber’s relative receive?
a. split brain operation
b. frontal lobotomy
c. parietal lobotomy
d. hypothalamic lobotomy
Answer: B
88. How many frontal lobotomies were performed in the 1940s and 1950s?
a. 7,000
b. 18,000
c. 26,000
d. 42,000
Answer: B
89. Well-controlled, long-term studies on frontal lobotomies found:
a. mixed results
b. overwhelming failure
c. overwhelming success
d. people adjust to new social demands
Answer: A
90. A major reason for the decline in the use of frontal lobotomies was that:
a. the majority of patients were turned into “vegetables”
b. it received negative publicity from movies like One Flew Over the Cuckoo‘s Nest
c. antipsychotic drugs were developed that better controlled behavior
d. the operation caused severe memory loss in patients
Answer: C
91. Based upon your textbook, the cognitive functions of the frontal lobe include all but one
of the following. Which one is not among the functions found in the frontal lobe?
a. attention
b. decision making
c. organizing
d. processing tactile information
Answer: D
92. Nerves on the ____ cross over and control the movements on the ____ side of the body.
a. left hemisphere; right
b. left occipital lobe; right
c. right occipital lobe; right
d. left hemisphere; left
Answer: A
93. If you wanted to reach with your right hand to grab a pen, where would that message
originate in your nervous system?
a. in the left somatosensory cortex
b. in the ascending pathway of the spinal cord
c. in the right motor cortex
d. in the left motor cortex
Answer: D
94. The motor cortex is located in the ____ lobe.
a. somatosensory
b. frontal
c. temporal
d. occipital
Answer: B
95. The strip of the cortex in the frontal lobe that is involved in the initiation of all voluntary
movements is called:
a. the somatosensory cortex
b. the sensory homunculus
c. Broca’s area
d. the motor cortex
Answer: D
96. Mr. Aaholm has a tumor in the right motor cortex. What is the most likely symptom he
experiences?
a. Disturbances in vision with his right eye.
b. Disturbances in vision with his left eye.
c. Disturbances in movement on the left side of his body.
d. Disturbances in movement on the right side of his body.
Answer: C
97. Considering the functions of the frontal lobe, which person in a large company best
illustrates those functions?
a. Kathy—receptionist
b. Dan—graphic artist
c. Patti—chief executive officer
d. Connie—custodian
Answer: C
98. Given the functions of the frontal lobe, it acts as a(n):
a. factory
b. robot
c. teacher
d. executive
Answer: D
99. The unusual drawing of the motor cortex that illustrates how much of the cortex is
devoted to various body parts is called the:
a. sensory homunculus
b. motor homunculus
c. cerebral homunculus
d. visual homunculus
Answer: B
100. What neurological change in the brain accounts for some older adults acting
inappropriately?
a. anencephaly
b. frontal lobe shrinkage
c. Fragile X syndrome
d. damage to Broca’s area
Answer: B
101. Why would some older adults have difficulty inhibiting unwanted speech?
a. shrinkage in left hemisphere
b. shrinkage in the thalamus
c. shrinkage in the frontal lobes
d. shrinkage in temporal lobes
Answer: C
102. “Oh I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.” What part of the brain is involved in the
executive function of attention?
a. hypothalamus
b. corpus callosum
c. Broca’s area
d. frontal lobes
Answer: D
103. The somatosensory cortex that receives sensory input is located in the:
a. frontal lobe
b. parietal lobe
c. motor cortex
d. occipital lobe
Answer: B
104. A young gymnast practices on the balance beam. What part of her brain will be
especially active in locating the positions of her arms and legs?
a. occipital lobe
b. somatosensory cortex
c. Amygdala
d. pons
Answer: B
105. Dakota’s right somatosensory cortex was severely injured in a car accident. As a result,
Dakota has great difficulty:
a. processing sensory information from the left side of the body
b. moving the right and left hands
c. understanding written words
d. carrying out plans
Answer: A
106. As a result of a workplace accident, a person damages the left somatosensory cortex,
resulting in:
a. loss of movement on the left side of the body
b. loss of feeling on the left side of the body
c. loss of feeling on the right side of the body
d. loss of movement on the right side of the body
Answer: C
107. Given the organization of the somatosensory cortex, which of the following parts of the
body would an injury like a cut hurt the most?
a. elbow
b. lips
c. heel
d. forearm
Answer: B
108. The unusual drawing of the somatosensory cortex that illustrates how much of the cortex
is devoted to various body parts is called the:
a. sensory homunculus
b. motor homunculus
c. cerebral homunculus
d. visual homunculus
Answer: A
109. Francisco is fluent in both Spanish and English. If we could examine his brain using
fMRI, his ____ would be more densely developed.
a. frontal lobes
b. cerebrum
c. thalamus
d. parietal lobes
Answer: D
110. If your parietal lobe is damaged, you would have difficulty:
a. imitating motor movements
b. coordinating movements on the left side and right side of your body
c. with visual perception
d. recognizing through touch the shape of a telephone in a dark room
Answer: D
111. “1…2…3…4.” As you count, what brain area is especially active?
a. parietal lobe
b. cerebellum
c. thalamus
d. hippocampus
Answer: A
112. The temporal lobe contains the:
a. sensory homunculus
b. motor homunculus
c. primary auditory cortex
d. primary visual cortex
Answer: C
113. The primary auditory cortex turns electrical signals into ____, while the auditory
association area turns raw sensory information into ____.
a. basic sensations; recognizable sounds
b. coherent sounds; electrical messages
c. perceptions; coherent sounds
d. perceptions; sensations
Answer: A
114. The ____ changes electrical signals into basic sound sensations.
a. somatosensory cortex
b. medulla
c. auditory association area
d. primary auditory cortex
Answer: D
115. During the game show Jeopardy, the host says the answer, “The temporal lobe.” Which
of the following is the best question?
a. “Which lobe is critical to hearing and speech?”
b. “What is the name of the lobe that sends motor messages to the body?”
c. “What is the lobe that does not have an association cortex?”
d. “Which lobe is critical to vision?”
Answer: A
116. Simon has difficulty in understanding spoken or written words. He also tends to talk
gibberish and cannot utter meaningful sentences. Simon has most likely been diagnosed with:
a. Wernicke’s aphasia
b. Occipital aphasia
c. Broca’s aphasia
d. Alzheimer’s disease
Answer: A
117. Wernicke’s area is located in the ____ lobe, whereas Broca’s area is located in the ____
lobe.
a. occipital; temporal
b. temporal; frontal
c. parietal; occipital
d. frontal; parietal
Answer: B
118. Mahrok is unable to speak in fluent sentences, but can still understand written and
spoken words. Mahrok probably has:
a. Wernicke’s aphasia
b. Occipital aphasia
c. Broca’s aphasia
d. Alzheimer’s disease
Answer: C
119. During the game show Jeopardy, the host says the answer, “The occipital lobe.” Which
of the following is the best question?
a. “Which lobe is critical to hearing and speech?”
b. “What is the name of the lobe that sends motor messages to the body?”
c. “What is the lobe that does not have an association cortex?”
d. “Which lobe is critical to vision?”
Answer: D
120. The occipital lobe contains the ____ cortex.
a. primary visual
b. primary auditory
c. sensory
d. motor
Answer: A
121. A crushing left hook to the head knocks down a boxer. He “sees stars” because:
a. neurons in the occipital lobe were stimulated by the blow
b. his eyes were jarred from their sockets
c. his frontal lobe was disturbed
d. memory cells in the association area were stimulated
Answer: A
122. The primary visual cortex turns electrical signals into ____, while the visual association
area turns raw sensory information into ____.
a. basic sensations; recognizable visual perceptions
b. coherent sights; electrical messages
c. perceptions; coherent sights
d. perceptions; sensations
Answer: A
123. During the transformation of basic visual sensations into meaning perception, there is
a(n) ____ in activity in the visual association areas and a(n) ____ in activity in the primary
visual cortex.
a. decrease; increase
b. increase; decrease
c. increase; increase
d. decrease; decrease
Answer: B
124. The ____ changes electrical signals into basic visual sensations.
a. somatosensory cortex
b. medulla
c. visual association area
d. primary visual cortex
Answer: D
125. If you are able to recognize a picture of the White House, then your ____ has worked.
a. primary visual cortex
b. hypothalamus
c. visual association area
d. Wernicke’s area
Answer: C
126. If your visual association area was damaged, the result would be:
a. total blindness
b. neglect syndrome only if the damage was confined to the left hemisphere
c. visual agnosia
d. insignificant
Answer: C
127. A patient with visual agnosia would have problems:
a. with transmitting electrical messages from the eyes to the primary visual cortex
b. recognizing some object or person
c. seeing parts of a visual stimulus
d. seeing objects on one side or another
Answer: B
128. Mike’s visual association area on the right hemisphere is damaged. The doctors have
diagnosed him with neglect syndrome. What can his family expect from Mike’s neurological
problem?
a. Mike’s failure to “see” things on his left side
b. problems with understanding speech spoken from the right side
c. an inability to recognize people
d. blindness
Answer: A
129. A patient of Dr. Howarth’s has visual agnosia. When the patient was asked to copy a
picture of the United States laying in front of him, he:
a. only drew the states on the left side of the picture
b. could not draw the picture because he did not understand the instructions
c. only drew the states on the right side of the picture
d. could not recognize that the picture was of the United States
Answer: D
130. One of Dr. Odland’s patients has neglect syndrome caused by right-sided brain damage.
When the patient was asked to copy a picture of the United States laying in front of him, he:
a. only drew the states on the left side of the picture
b. could not draw the picture because he did not understand the instructions
c. only drew the states on the right side of the picture
d. could not recognize that the picture was of the United States
Answer: C
131. Which disorder is characterized by the failure to see objects or parts of the body on the
side opposite the brain damage?
a. neglect syndrome
b. lateral syndrome
c. association syndrome
d. Wernicke’s syndrome
Answer: A
132. Visual agnosia is to neglect syndrome as ____ is to ____.
a. understanding; production
b. recognizing; seeing
c. Broca’s area; hypothalamus
d. frontal lobe; occipital lobe
Answer: B
133. What part of the brain do we share in common with the alligator?
a. Broca’s area
b. cortex
c. limbic system
d. Wernicke’s area
Answer: C
134. One of the functions of the limbic system is to:
a. regulate motivational and emotional behaviors
b. moderate pain signals from the muscles
c. regulate blood pressure and heart rate
d. pass information from one hemisphere of the brain to the other
Answer: A
135. The area of the brain responsible for such primary motives as hunger, thirst, and sex is
the:
a. reticular activating system
b. pons
c. frontal lobe
d. hypothalamus
Answer: D
136. What controls the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
a. reticular activating system
b. hypothalamus
c. amygdala
d. thalamus
Answer: B
137. Guy has a massive tumor in his hypothalamus. What problems can we expect Guy to
display?
a. memory
b. understanding language
c. eating, drinking, and emotional behavior
d. recognizing simple visual stimuli
Answer: C
138. You are watching a really scary movie. The main character is about to be attacked by a
monster. You look over to the person sitting next to you and see fear in his face. What part of
the limbic system allows you to evaluate his expression?
a. hypothalamus
b. hippocampus
c. thalamus
d. amygdala
Answer: D
139. A patient known as H. M., while undergoing brain surgery, suffered accidental brain
damage. After the surgery, while he retained all of his old memories, he could no longer make
new ones. H. M. could not retain new information for more than about 30 seconds. What part
of his limbic system was damaged?
a. hypothalamus
b. thalamus
c. hippocampus
d. cortex
Answer: C
140. The hippocampus is involved with:
a. receiving sensory information
b. putting memories into permanent storage
c. regulating sexual behavior
d. controlling the secretion of hormones
Answer: B
141. What part of the brain could be compared to a computerized switchboard receiving calls
from all over the country and then directing the paths of these incoming calls?
a. thalamus
b. hypothalamus
c. occipital lobe
d. cerebellum
Answer: A
142. Which of the following is involved in the initial processing of sensory information on its
way to areas of the cortex?
a. thalamus
b. hypothalamus
c. amygdala
d. hippocampus
Answer: A
143. LuAnn has problems with her vision, but her retina, optic nerve, and visual cortex are
normal. Which of the following brain parts is most likely causing her visual problems?
a. corpus callosum
b. thalamus
c. amygdala
d. hippocampus
Answer: B
144. Which sense is not gathered and processed by the thalamus?
a. vision
b. smell
c. touch
d. hearing
Answer: B
145. What part of the brain regulates the limbic system’s powerful urges?
a. frontal lobe
b. hippocampus
c. amygdala
d. hypothalamus
Answer: A
146. You come to class having failed to read the assignment. Your professor arrives, orders
everyone to put away books and notes, and hands out a pop quiz. Your heart starts pounding
and you begin to sweat because of which nervous system division?
a. central
b. somatic
c. parasympathetic
d. sympathetic
Answer: D
147. The activation of the sympathetic division would prepare people for:
a. digestion of food
b. relaxation
c. energy conservation
d. fight-flight response
Answer: D
148. A college freshman is about to give her first speech in class. As she walks to the podium,
she feels her heart pounding much faster and harder than normal. After the speech, she
notices that her heart begins to return to a normal pace because:
a. her peers congratulate her on a job well done
b. walking settles her heart
c. the parasympathetic division calms her heart
d. the heart cannot maintain a fast, hard rate for very long
Answer: C
149. What effect of the parasympathetic nervous systems presented below is incorrect?
a. pupils constriction
b. dry mouth
c. decreased heart rate
d. stimulated digestion
Answer: B
150. Sympathetic is to arouse as parasympathetic is to ____.
a. fight
b. flight
c. calm
d. homeostasis
Answer: C
151. The tendency for the autonomic nervous system to maintain the body’s internal
environment in a balanced state of optimum functioning is called:
a. synaptic regulation
b. reflexive functioning
c. stereotaxis
d. homeostasis
Answer: D
152. When Mark is cold, he shivers; when Mark is hot, he sweats. By regulating body
temperature, these behaviors help Mark to maintain:
a. homeostasis
b. reflexive functioning
c. stereotaxis
d. myelination
Answer: A
153. Hormones are secreted from glands located throughout the body. The ____ is made up of
these glands.
a. endocrine system
b. endorphin system
c. limbic system
d. pituitary system
Answer: A
154. ____ are secreted by the glands that make up the endocrine system.
a. Gonads
b. Hormones
c. Rhodopsins
d. Pancreas
Answer: B
155. The structure that acts as the “control center” of the endocrine system is the:
a. thyroid
b. adrenal gland
c. hypothalamus
d. parathyroid
Answer: C
156. Joan has a medical problem called diabetes that is caused by a lack of insulin. What
gland in the endocrine system is responsible for Joan’s condition?
a. gonads
b. endorphin
c. thyroid
d. pancreas
Answer: D
157. Which of the following regulates growth through the secretion of a growth hormone?
a. pancreas
b. gonads
c. thyroid
d. anterior pituitary
Answer: D
158. “Wow, look at that guy,” David remarks looking at a picture of a man standing over 8
feet tall. “This guy must have had a dysfunctional ____ that caused too much growth
hormone to be secreted.”
a. anterior pituitary
b. posterior pituitary
c. lateral pituitary
d. thyroid
Answer: A
159. As a physician specializing in the endocrine system, you see many patients with various
types of problems. One patient has dysfunctional adrenal glands. You have advised her to
take a course on stress management. Why?
a. her endocrine system cannot produce cortical hormones which would lead to problems in
coping with stress
b. many physical problems can be treated by stress management
c. because the adrenal glands control growth, and stress management may help her
d. stress reduces the amount of calcium in the body
Answer: A
160. Hormones that regulate sexual development and the growth of the sex organs are
produced by the:
a. pancreas
b. gonads
c. adrenal glands
d. posterior pituitary
Answer: B
161. With regard to performance on rotating figure problems:
a. males are faster and more accurate than females
b. males are slower but more accurate than females
c. males are more likely to answer more problems, but also make more errors than females
d. there appears to be no consistent significant difference between males and females
Answer: A
162. Women tend to be better than men at tasks that measure:
a. spatial ability
b. perceptual speed
c. logic
d. rotating mental objects
Answer: B
163. Women tend to be better than men at tasks that require:
a. spatial ability
b. verbal fluency
c. analytic ability
d. rotating mental objects
Answer: B
164. Research has found that the brains of men, when solving rotating figure problems, were
especially active in the:
a. right parietal-temporal area
b. right frontal area
c. left frontal area
d. left occipital area
Answer: B
165. Brain scans reveal that when women are solving rotating figure problems, their ____
shows maximum activity.
a. right parietal-temporal area
b. right frontal area
c. left frontal area
d. left occipital area
Answer: A
166. Recent research indicates that the amygdala processes ____ differently in men and
women.
a. intense emotional experiences
b. pain
c. language
d. boredom
Answer: A
167. In recalling intense emotional experiences, men show greater activity in the ____ while
women show greater activity in the ____.
a. hippocampus; cerebellum
b. right hemisphere amygdala; left hemisphere amygdala
c. thalamus; hypothalamus
d. right hemisphere temporal lobe; left hemisphere temporal lobe
Answer: B
168. If Candy is trying to remember a very frightening movie, her ____ would be especially
active.
a. hippocampus
b. right hemisphere temporal lobe
c. thalamus
d. left hemisphere amygdala
Answer: D
169. The flaw in Samuel George Morton’s research on skull size was:
a. failing to adequately identify the independent variable
b. he used different size pellets to measure skull size
c. he selected skulls that matched his own bias
d. only the skulls of Asians and Native Americans were used
Answer: C
170. Your psychology instructor enjoys using analogies, similes, and metaphors in the class.
Today, she is talking about the corpus callosum. As she is lecturing on the corpus callosum,
you’re thinking of an appropriate metaphor. Which of the following is the most appropriate
simile?
a. “The corpus callosum is like a house in a neighborhood.”
b. “The corpus callosum is like a bridge that connects several islands.”
c. “The corpus callosum is like an interpreter of a foreign language.”
d. “The corpus callosum is like a general ordering his troops.”
Answer: B
171. Your class is watching a video of a split-brain operation. You see the surgeon take a
scalpel and sever a structure to disconnect the two hemispheres. Your friend asks you what
the structure was that was being cut and you say the:
a. cerebellum
b. hypothalamus
c. corpus callosum
d. pituitary gland
Answer: C
172. Why would a split-brain patient say that he saw the word “ART” when “HE•ART” is
flashed on the screen in front of him?
a. “ART” goes to the left hemisphere, which has the ability to speak
b. “ART” goes to the right hemisphere, which has the ability to speak
c. “ART” goes to the corpus callosum, which has the ability to speak
d. “ART” goes to the thalamus, which has the ability to speak
Answer: A
173. The right hemisphere of the brain is better at ____ tasks, whereas the left hemisphere is
better at ____ tasks.
a. mathematical; spatial
b. nonverbal; verbal
c. analytic; holistic
d. visual; auditory
Answer: B
174. A word is flashed before a normal subject so that it is presented to his left visual field.
Before the subject can say the word, the:
a. subject must view the word in the right visual field
b. impulses must be localized in the right hemisphere
c. impulses must cross hemispheres
d. impulses must stay in the same hemisphere
Answer: C
175. Which part of the brain would “see” a face by analyzing piece-by-piece its many
separate parts (e.g., nose, eye, lips, cheek, etc.)?
a. the pons
b. the corpus callosum
c. the left hemisphere
d. the right hemisphere
Answer: C
176. When you see a picture of yourself, you recognize your own face. Which part of the
brain is responsible for that ability?
a. hypothalamus
b. midbrain
c. the right hemisphere
d. the left hemisphere
Answer: D
177. Harry is attending his 10-year high school reunion. As he visits with his classmates, he
has some trouble putting together faces with names. He sees someone he thinks he knows by
the shape of the nose and eyes. Which part of the brain is probably allowing Harry to analyze
the features of the many faces he sees?
a. left hemisphere
b. right hemisphere
c. thalamus
d. somatosensory cortex
Answer: A
178. Gazzaniga believes that when we do some type of activity, the brain uses:
a. different mental programs simultaneously
b. a master and several minor mental programs
c. different mental programs sequentially
d. one or two mental programs
Answer: A
179. If a person retains basic physiological function, but has lost cognitive function, the
person’s condition is called:
a. differential vegetative state
b. unconsciousness
c. persistent vegetative state
d. chronic unconscious dementia
Answer: C
180. An autopsy of Terri Schiavo’s brain revealed that:
a. some basic cognitive function was still probably intact
b. Alzheimer’s disease had damaged major portions of her brain
c. no treatment would have helped her to recover
d. her brainstem was damaged
Answer: C
TRUE/FALSE
1. DNA is made up of chromosomes.
Answer: False
2. There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in humans.
Answer: True
3. Humans have more sophisticated neurons than chimpanzees and this explains the
difference in intelligence.
Answer: False
4. MRI scans require an injection of a radioactive material into the patient’s blood.
Answer: False
5. When saying out loud a word we see, most of the neural activity occurs in the front area of
the brain.
Answer: False
6. The autonomic nervous system is part of the central nervous system.
Answer: False
7. Your sympathetic division returns the body to a calmer state.
Answer: False
8. The cerebellum controls vital reflexes.
Answer: F
9. The forebrain is responsible for planning and making decisions.
Answer: True
10. The occipital lobe is involved in processing visual information.
Answer: True
11. A frontal lobotomy involves cutting the temporal lobe.
Answer: False
12. The motor cortex is located in the frontal lobe.
Answer: True
13. Executive function is governed by the frontal lobes.
Answer: True
14. In Broca’s aphasia, the person has difficulty speaking in a fluent way.
Answer: T
15. Turning visual sensations into complete, meaningful perception is a function of the
primary visual cortex.
Answer: False
16. The hippocampus relays sensory information to areas of the cortex.
Answer: False
17. An area of the brain that plays a major role in eating, drinking, and sexual responses is the
hypothalamus.
Answer: True
18. When a child watches violence on TV, there is an increase in the activity of the
cerebellum.
Answer: False
19. When solving a problem, male and female brains look identical in brain scans.
Answer: False
20. The brains of women are more effectively wired than the brains of men for solving
rotating figure problems.
Answer: False
21. The right hemisphere is not good at recognizing tone of voice.
Answer: False
22. A person in a persistent vegetative state may be able to track an object with their eyes.
Answer: True
Test Bank for Introduction to Psychology
Rod Plotnik, Haig Kouyoumdjian
9781133939535, 9781305008113, 9781285061306
