UC Berkeley CogSci 1 Midterm Summer UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
What is Cognitive Science? interdisciplinary study of the mind and intelligence.
Cognition as information processing
manipulation of representations
Phineas Gage (Case Study) Phineas Gage: railroad worker who survived a brain injury that changed his
personality and behavior;
case study examined the localization of brain function: frontal lobe controls
personality and behavior
Synapse space between neurons through which they communicate, through either
electrical or chemical signals
Action potential flow and exchange of ions and potassium in response to a stimulus - the change
in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the
membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell. They are transmitted to the dendrites of
other neurons at synapses.
3 parts of a neuron axon, cell body (includes nucleus), dendrites
what are the two types of brain damage techniques? lesion studies and case study method
Angiography useful in detecting certain disorders associated with abnormalities in the arteries
of the brain.
CT scan a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by
computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body, non
invasive, average temporal resolution, low spatial resolution
CAT scan a method of creating static images of the brain through computerized axial
tomography. we can deblur the original axial tomographic image and reconstruct
a complete image from multiple views provided by a rotating beam. It is used to
image bone liver and brain.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-
generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy. Cannot be
performed if one has metal present in the body. Clearer than a CAT scan. Allows
researcher to see white matter, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid as well.
DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) an imaging method that uses a modified MRI scanner to reveal bundles of
myelinated axons (white matter) in the living human brain
, EEG (electroencephalogram) /ERP uses electroencephalography to record electrical activity of the brain during
cognitive processing can detect rapid change in neural activity. Non-invasive and
can be used on people who are fully conscious. An amplified recording of the
waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are
measured by electrodes placed on the scalp. good temporal resolution, average
spatial resolution;
MEG (magnetoencephalography) a brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural
electrical activity
TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) the use of strong magnets to briefly interrupt normal brain activity as a way to
study brain regions, can help determine function of a specific region. It is non
invasive, has high temporal resolution, but only average spatial resolution
TDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) is a form of neurostimulation which uses constant, low current delivered to the
brain area of interest via electrodes on the scalp. It was originally developed to
help patients with brain injuries such as strokes
PET (positron emission tomography) scan a method of examining cerebral blood flow while a subject is carrying out a
certain cognitive task. It makes uses of radioactive isotopes called positrons
which are injected into the blood stream and carried to the brain. Image is slightly
blurry. Non-invasive, low temporal resolution, and high spatial resolution.
SPECT scan (single-photon emission computerized same as PET but a photon is injected into the bloodstream instead of a positron.
tomography) allows investigation to lock in brain activity state at the time the labeled substance
is introduced into the body. Possible to discover the location of activity in the
brain when a certain subject is engaged in a particular mental exercise
fMRI (functional MRI) Similar to an MRI but provides mapping of both function and structure. It detects
changes in the magnetic state of blood and depends on the amount of oxygen in
the blood. Low invasiveness, low temporal resolution, and high spatial resolution
fNIRS (functional near-infrared spectroscopy) allows neuroimaging of brain activation by tracking blood flow via changes in
hemoglobin
temporal resolution A term that refers to how small a unit of time can be measured; high temporal
resolution means capable of resolving very small units of time; in neuroscience it
describes how precisely in time a process can be measured in the brain. The
accuracy with which one can measure when an event is occurring
spatial resolution A term that refers to how small the elements of an image are; high spatial
resolution means the device or technique can resolve very small elements; in
neuroscience it describes how small of a structure in the brain can be imaged.
invasiveness whether or not the equipment is located internally or externally
David Marr created a model for vision and contributed to vision science
brain-machine interface a system that detects, generates, and/or modifies ongoing neural activity in the
brain to accomplish some task
CORRECT Answers
What is Cognitive Science? interdisciplinary study of the mind and intelligence.
Cognition as information processing
manipulation of representations
Phineas Gage (Case Study) Phineas Gage: railroad worker who survived a brain injury that changed his
personality and behavior;
case study examined the localization of brain function: frontal lobe controls
personality and behavior
Synapse space between neurons through which they communicate, through either
electrical or chemical signals
Action potential flow and exchange of ions and potassium in response to a stimulus - the change
in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the
membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell. They are transmitted to the dendrites of
other neurons at synapses.
3 parts of a neuron axon, cell body (includes nucleus), dendrites
what are the two types of brain damage techniques? lesion studies and case study method
Angiography useful in detecting certain disorders associated with abnormalities in the arteries
of the brain.
CT scan a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by
computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body, non
invasive, average temporal resolution, low spatial resolution
CAT scan a method of creating static images of the brain through computerized axial
tomography. we can deblur the original axial tomographic image and reconstruct
a complete image from multiple views provided by a rotating beam. It is used to
image bone liver and brain.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-
generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy. Cannot be
performed if one has metal present in the body. Clearer than a CAT scan. Allows
researcher to see white matter, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid as well.
DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) an imaging method that uses a modified MRI scanner to reveal bundles of
myelinated axons (white matter) in the living human brain
, EEG (electroencephalogram) /ERP uses electroencephalography to record electrical activity of the brain during
cognitive processing can detect rapid change in neural activity. Non-invasive and
can be used on people who are fully conscious. An amplified recording of the
waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are
measured by electrodes placed on the scalp. good temporal resolution, average
spatial resolution;
MEG (magnetoencephalography) a brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural
electrical activity
TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) the use of strong magnets to briefly interrupt normal brain activity as a way to
study brain regions, can help determine function of a specific region. It is non
invasive, has high temporal resolution, but only average spatial resolution
TDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) is a form of neurostimulation which uses constant, low current delivered to the
brain area of interest via electrodes on the scalp. It was originally developed to
help patients with brain injuries such as strokes
PET (positron emission tomography) scan a method of examining cerebral blood flow while a subject is carrying out a
certain cognitive task. It makes uses of radioactive isotopes called positrons
which are injected into the blood stream and carried to the brain. Image is slightly
blurry. Non-invasive, low temporal resolution, and high spatial resolution.
SPECT scan (single-photon emission computerized same as PET but a photon is injected into the bloodstream instead of a positron.
tomography) allows investigation to lock in brain activity state at the time the labeled substance
is introduced into the body. Possible to discover the location of activity in the
brain when a certain subject is engaged in a particular mental exercise
fMRI (functional MRI) Similar to an MRI but provides mapping of both function and structure. It detects
changes in the magnetic state of blood and depends on the amount of oxygen in
the blood. Low invasiveness, low temporal resolution, and high spatial resolution
fNIRS (functional near-infrared spectroscopy) allows neuroimaging of brain activation by tracking blood flow via changes in
hemoglobin
temporal resolution A term that refers to how small a unit of time can be measured; high temporal
resolution means capable of resolving very small units of time; in neuroscience it
describes how precisely in time a process can be measured in the brain. The
accuracy with which one can measure when an event is occurring
spatial resolution A term that refers to how small the elements of an image are; high spatial
resolution means the device or technique can resolve very small elements; in
neuroscience it describes how small of a structure in the brain can be imaged.
invasiveness whether or not the equipment is located internally or externally
David Marr created a model for vision and contributed to vision science
brain-machine interface a system that detects, generates, and/or modifies ongoing neural activity in the
brain to accomplish some task
