Chapter 1 Psychology

Chapter 2 Homework: The brain, the body, and behavior (20 points)

Below are the questions you must answer for the Chapter 2 homework. All questions are worth 1 point except for the short answer. The homework must be done on a word processor. Your answers should be in your own words. Copying directly from the textbook without proper citation is plagiarism.

1. Contemporary cognitive neuroscientists often employ a technique called which uses multiple radio-frequency images of the brain to detect changes in activity in a particular brain region.

a. Functional magnetic resonance imaging

b. Functional electroencephalography

c. Functional positron emission tomography

d. Functional electrical stimulation imaging

2. A cell that receives information and transmits it to other cells via an electrochemical process is called a(n):

a. Glia

b. Hormone

c. Neuron

d. Endorphin

3. Which of the following is not true about the hindbrain?

a. The hindbrain includes the cerebellum, pons, and medulla

b. The hindbrain includes many tracts of neurons that link the brain and the spinal cord

c. The hindbrain, especially the medulla, is considered the seat of human intelligence

d. The hindbrain regulates much of your involuntary vital functions like heart rate and breathing

4. This lobe integrates information from the rest of the cortex to support problem solving, decision making, and motor function:

a. Occipital

b. Temporal

c. Parietal

d. Frontal

5. The neuron has many branch-like extensions called that receive input from other neurons.

a. Axons

b. Terminals

c. Dendrites

d. Glia

6. You wake up in the hospital and your doctor informs you that you may have problems with your vision for a few days due to head trauma that disrupted functioning in this lobe of the cortex.

a. Temporal

b. Occipital

c. Parietal

d. Frontal

7. Which of the following best describes the junction of two neurons?

a. The axon of the first cell is fused to the soma of the second cell

b. The soma of the first cell releases neurotransmitters to be collected by the second cell’s axon

c. The terminal of the first neuron is separated from the second neuron by a small gap called a synapse

d. The dendrites of the first cell are fused to the dendrites of the next cell

8. You are helping a stroke victim to rehabilitate and you observe that his ability to produce language is severely impaired. You conclude that this small area between the frontal and temporal lobes has been damaged.

a. Wernicke’s area

b. Broca’s area

c. Ranier’s area

d. Duca’s area

9. As we age, our brains continue to change according to our environment, a property known as:

a. Viscosity

b. Density

c. Plasticity

d. Fluidity

10. Which of the following provides the best description of hemispheric specialization in the cortex?

a. The two hemispheres of the cortex are specialized to have identical functions

b. The two hemispheres of the cortex are specialized for different functions, especially in the case of language

c. The two hemispheres of the cortex are specialized to maintain most of the body’s vital functions like respiration and heart rate

d. The two hemispheres of the cortex are specialized to compete for the brain’s resources, especially the limbic system

11. Hemispheric specialization exists in both men and women. However, the patterns of hemispheric specialization are not identical for men and women. Briefly describe the differences we see in hemispheric specialization among men and women in the following areas:

a. Language processing (2 pts)

b. Visual-spatial processing (2 pts)

12. There is an argument among scientists (including psychologists) that has been going on for many years about critical factors involved in the development of human behavior. Write a short paragraph explaining this argument. Make sure you include answers to the following questions in your paragraph: (Minimum 60 words, include word count in answer)

a. What is the name of this argument? (1 pt)

b. What is the official name for scientists on both sides of this argument and what do both sides believe? (4 pts)

c. In your own words, how have psychologists today “solved” this argument? (1 pt)