Learning Curve 3b

Who MOST likely suffered from a lower spinal cord injury?

Haley, whose legs are paralyzed but can move her arms

Which statement BEST characterizes the pituitary gland?

Controlled by the hypothalamus, it influences all other glands, as well as promotes growth.

Sometimes, areas of the cortex can step in for damaged or unused areas of the brain. Alternatively, areas of the cortex will sometimes take over adjacent areas. The ability of the brain to change is these ways is referred to as:

PLACTICITY

Damage to the _____ could leave a person unable to navigate his or her way through a room.

TECTUM

The reticular formation is a small cluster of neurons that:

The reticular formation is a small cluster of neurons that:

Which statement is TRUE about the major components of the brain?

They are all interdependent and interact with one another.

The somatic nervous system is a set of nerves that:

allows humans to consciously interact with and perceive the "external" world.

While Nathaniel eats, he always chews with his mouth closed. This requires that he breathe through his nose, but he does not have to focus on this because his _____ nervous system allows him to do it automatically.

autonomic

A person who can think about wanting to pick up a coffee mug, but who cannot actually initiate the movement, may have damage to the:

basal ganglia

What promotes neuron growth and increased synaptic connections in the hippocampus of nonhuman animals?

cardiovascular exercise

_____ affects brain structures in nonhuman animals by promoting neuron growth and increased synaptic connections in the hippocampus.

cardiovascular exerise

A basketball star's ability to dribble the ball down the court, jump up toward the basket, and dunk the basketball can be credited to an area of the hindbrain called the:

cerebellum

The _____ has a wrinkled surface and is responsible for complex aspects of perception, emotion, and thought.

cerebral cortex

Which function is NOT attributable to the spinal cord?

cognitive processing (responding to pain, keeping a person breathing, and moving muscles are)

In cases where the corpus callosum is severed, the _____ would be impaired.

communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain

The primary function of the forebrain is to:

control complex cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor functions.

The primary function of the hindbrain is to:

control the most basic functions of life.

Mirror neurons are activated when:

watching the behavior of another animals

The brain can be organized into areas that perform simple functions to areas that perform more complex functions. Which order begins with the area that is most simple in its functions and ends with the area that is most complex in its functions?

hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain

Studies have shown that rats will press a bar that initiates stimulation of their _____ to the point of exhaustion. This demonstrates that this area is associated with reward and pleasure.

hypothalamus

Which response is NOT caused by the parasympathetic nervous system?

increased respiration (it does slow heart rate; decrease sweating, and activate the digestive system0

Each side of the cerebral cortex is split into four _____, each having somewhat different functions.

lobes

Kelsey is interested in how different parts of her brain are responsible for different behaviors. One of the most basic things she should know is that tasks such as her ability to eat and breathe are performed at "_____" levels of her brain, and her ability to do mathematics and ponder the meaning of life are performed at "_____" levels.

lower; higher

Carlos is a competitive swimmer, and it is important for his vitals to be well coordinated. The structure in the hindbrain called the _____ keeps these synchronized to help him function as a successful swimmer.

medulla

The _____ system is an interacting network of neurons that conveys electrochemical information throughout the body.

nervous

The limbic system is a group of structures involved in:

motivation, emotion, learning, and memory.

Rachel encounters a cougar in the foothills and escapes safely by running very quickly to her car. After reaching the safety of her car, her heart rate and breathing begin to slow down because of her _____ nervous system.

parasympathetic

Although only 13, Diego had a stroke in the left hemisphere in the motor cortex, which controls his right hand. After rehabilitation and exercise, he was able to control his right hand again. Brain scans revealed that Diego's motor control of the right hand was now being controlled by the motor cortex in the right hemisphere. This change demonstrates the _____ of the brain.

plasticity

When areas of the cortex are damaged and other areas of the cortex and other areas take on this function, this process is called _____.

plasticity

The hindbrain is NOT likely to be involved in the act of:

reciting a poem from memory

Jason was in a serious automobile accident in which he suffered significant head trauma. He has been in a coma for the last 3 months. Jason's coma was likely caused by damage to the area of the hindbrain known as the:

reticular formaiton

In one study, stimulation of the _____ in sleeping cats caused them to awaken immediately.

reticular formation

The small cluster of neurons called the _____ regulates sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal.

reticular information

_____ parts of the body have a larger portion of the somatosensory cortex devoted to them.

sensitive (or something like that)

When Nick reaches for his fork to take a bite of his pasta, he can consciously do so because he is using the _____ nervous system.

somatic

Damage to the _____ severs the connection from the brain to the sensory and motor neurons.

spinal cord

Rachel arrived home at night and upon entering the house, her brother jumped out from behind the door to scare her. She immediately reacted by screaming and punching him in the face. Rachel reacted this way because of her _____ nervous system.

sympathetic

The _____ nervous system prepares the body for action in threatening situations.

sympathetic

The thalamus receives information from the sensory systems including:

taste, vision, touch, and sound.

The _____ of the endocrine system regulates bodily functions such as temperature and heart rate.

thyroid gland

A person could survive with only the hindbrain and the midbrain because these portions of the brain are involved in:

vital functions and orientation