COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE EXAM #1
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Temporal Lobe - Answer-Functions include: Memory, visual item recognition,
emotion, and auditory processing. Damage to this can result in inability to recognize
objects.
Occipital Lobe - Answer-Extremely important for visual processing. Contain primary
visual cortex.
Lesions - Answer-Observations of Individuals with brain damage
Broca's area - Answer-responsible for spoken language
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) - Answer-This is a stroke or a disruption in the
brains blood supply
Hemorrhagic (type of stroke) - Answer-Blood leaks into the brain tissue
Ischemic - Answer-A clot that stops the blood supply to an area of the brain
Mass Action - Answer-All parts of the brain are involved in a given function
Localization of Function - Answer-Area of the brain involved in a given function
Limitations of Lesion Method - Answer-Variability across lesions (Size, and exact
location) and Variability across patients with lesions
Double Dissociation - Answer-A method for determining whether 2 cognitive
functions are independent of one another
Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) scan - Answer-A way to look at the brain
using X-rays. X-rays are sent towards the brain, and hey scatter in a different way
depending on the density of the tissue that they encounter.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan - Answer-Uses a really really strong
magnetic field that aligns all of the protons in the person's tissue, and then a radio
frequency is delivered to the person. At this point, the protons fall out of alignment
and then realign. The scanner detects the actions of the protons as they go back into
alignment. Can't get an MRI if you have metal in your sytem
Functional MRI (FMRI) (what does it detect?) - Answer-MRI studies brain anatomy,
while FMRI studies functionality of the brain. Detects changes in blood flow to
particular areas of the brain. It has good spatial resolution.
,Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan - Answer-A radioactive substance
(usually neurotransmitters) is injected into the brain. As it becomes stable, light is
produced and then measured. It detects the amount of a substance being used by
different brain regions. (example: injecting a specific radioactive substance that only
affects dopamine, so you can measure dopamine levels in various parts of the
brain).
Single Cell REcording - Answer-Electrode is placed on a cell and electrical activity is
recorded
Electroencephalography (EEG) (What does it measure?) - Answer-Electrodes are
placed on the scalp, and then they record brain activity. Recording represent many
activities of man neurons. Measures sleep patterns, and excess activity (as in
seizures)
Even-related potential (ERP) - Answer-This is similar to EEGs. In reference to a
specific event
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) - Answer-Similar technique to ERP, but this
records magnetic potentials. Helpful for localizing source of epileptic activity and
locating areas to avoid during surgery
Mammillary Bodies (L.S) - Answer-These are associated with amnesia. Wen they
are damaged, it greatly affects someone's ability to store and retrieve memories
Hippocampus (L.S) - Answer-Directly associated with memory
Cerebral Cortex - Answer-The bumps and grooves on the surface of the brain
Gyrus - Answer-each convolution or bump
Sulcus - Answer-Each valley between bumps
Fissure - Answer-A very deep sulcus
Longitudinal Fissure - Answer-Deep, middle of brain, separates left and right
Central Sulcus - Answer-Divides the front of the brain from the back of the brain
Sylvian Fissure - Answer-Doesn't go all the way to the back of the brain, but extends
posteriorly. Helps separate temporal love from the frontal lobe
Brodmann's area - Answer-A series of numbers labeled by Brodmann that refer to
the various areas of the brain, and cytoarchitecture
Cytoarchitecture - Answer-Looking at the cellular makeup through the cortex. There
are differences across the different regions of the cortex (How many or how few cells
are in certain parts of the brain)
, Primary Motor Cortex (pertains mostly to what body parts?) - Answer-Directly
controls our motor output, and what allows us to move. Huge amounts of the motor
cortex pertains to the hands and face
Primary sensory cortex/somatosensory cortex - Answer-Directly responsible for our
feeling of touch. It also includes the feeling of pain and temperative
Proprioception - Answer-Stems from the sensory cortex. Allows us to know where
we are in space (I.E if we are sitting in a chair or standing up)
Primary visual cortex - Answer-Responsible for seeing and making sense out of
information. Vision. Near the back of the brain
Auditory Cortex (what kind of system does it use) - Answer-Directly related to our
sense of sound and hearing. Uses a low frequency system
Olfactory Cortex - Answer-Primary cortex that pertains to our sense of smell
Gustatory Cortex - Answer-Directly related to taste
Association Areas - Answer-Regions of cortex that combine information from other
brain regions. They are Multimodal: which means they allow us to further process
sensory information. (I.E they allow us to combine seeing and hearing to identify
something like a firetruck)
Frontal Lobe - Answer-Functions include: Planning, guidance, and evaluation of
behavior. Damage will affect a person's personality
Parietal Lobe - Answer-It integrates information to various parts of the body. Its
function also includes processing information relating to the sense of touch. Damage
to this (called hemineglect) can lead to someone ignoring one side of space
Purpose of Neuropsychological Assessments - Answer-Measure cognition and
behavior to infer brain function. Helps to understand, explain, and predict behavior.
So we can look at someone's brain and compare it to a normal individual's brain to
determine any problems
Different areas of functioning that can be assessed - Answer-General cognitive
ability (IQ) and several specific domains of functioning
General Cognitive Abilities include - Answer-Verbal comprehension, perceptual
reasoning, working memory, and processing speed
Specific Domains of functioning include - Answer-Input (perception), Attention
concentration and memory, Language Skills, Visuospatial skills, concept formation
reasoning and logical analysis, and output/motor skills
Input (perception) - Answer-This is hearing, feeling, seeing (A test would be closing
your eyes and being handed an object, then being asked to identify the object)
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Temporal Lobe - Answer-Functions include: Memory, visual item recognition,
emotion, and auditory processing. Damage to this can result in inability to recognize
objects.
Occipital Lobe - Answer-Extremely important for visual processing. Contain primary
visual cortex.
Lesions - Answer-Observations of Individuals with brain damage
Broca's area - Answer-responsible for spoken language
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) - Answer-This is a stroke or a disruption in the
brains blood supply
Hemorrhagic (type of stroke) - Answer-Blood leaks into the brain tissue
Ischemic - Answer-A clot that stops the blood supply to an area of the brain
Mass Action - Answer-All parts of the brain are involved in a given function
Localization of Function - Answer-Area of the brain involved in a given function
Limitations of Lesion Method - Answer-Variability across lesions (Size, and exact
location) and Variability across patients with lesions
Double Dissociation - Answer-A method for determining whether 2 cognitive
functions are independent of one another
Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) scan - Answer-A way to look at the brain
using X-rays. X-rays are sent towards the brain, and hey scatter in a different way
depending on the density of the tissue that they encounter.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan - Answer-Uses a really really strong
magnetic field that aligns all of the protons in the person's tissue, and then a radio
frequency is delivered to the person. At this point, the protons fall out of alignment
and then realign. The scanner detects the actions of the protons as they go back into
alignment. Can't get an MRI if you have metal in your sytem
Functional MRI (FMRI) (what does it detect?) - Answer-MRI studies brain anatomy,
while FMRI studies functionality of the brain. Detects changes in blood flow to
particular areas of the brain. It has good spatial resolution.
,Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan - Answer-A radioactive substance
(usually neurotransmitters) is injected into the brain. As it becomes stable, light is
produced and then measured. It detects the amount of a substance being used by
different brain regions. (example: injecting a specific radioactive substance that only
affects dopamine, so you can measure dopamine levels in various parts of the
brain).
Single Cell REcording - Answer-Electrode is placed on a cell and electrical activity is
recorded
Electroencephalography (EEG) (What does it measure?) - Answer-Electrodes are
placed on the scalp, and then they record brain activity. Recording represent many
activities of man neurons. Measures sleep patterns, and excess activity (as in
seizures)
Even-related potential (ERP) - Answer-This is similar to EEGs. In reference to a
specific event
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) - Answer-Similar technique to ERP, but this
records magnetic potentials. Helpful for localizing source of epileptic activity and
locating areas to avoid during surgery
Mammillary Bodies (L.S) - Answer-These are associated with amnesia. Wen they
are damaged, it greatly affects someone's ability to store and retrieve memories
Hippocampus (L.S) - Answer-Directly associated with memory
Cerebral Cortex - Answer-The bumps and grooves on the surface of the brain
Gyrus - Answer-each convolution or bump
Sulcus - Answer-Each valley between bumps
Fissure - Answer-A very deep sulcus
Longitudinal Fissure - Answer-Deep, middle of brain, separates left and right
Central Sulcus - Answer-Divides the front of the brain from the back of the brain
Sylvian Fissure - Answer-Doesn't go all the way to the back of the brain, but extends
posteriorly. Helps separate temporal love from the frontal lobe
Brodmann's area - Answer-A series of numbers labeled by Brodmann that refer to
the various areas of the brain, and cytoarchitecture
Cytoarchitecture - Answer-Looking at the cellular makeup through the cortex. There
are differences across the different regions of the cortex (How many or how few cells
are in certain parts of the brain)
, Primary Motor Cortex (pertains mostly to what body parts?) - Answer-Directly
controls our motor output, and what allows us to move. Huge amounts of the motor
cortex pertains to the hands and face
Primary sensory cortex/somatosensory cortex - Answer-Directly responsible for our
feeling of touch. It also includes the feeling of pain and temperative
Proprioception - Answer-Stems from the sensory cortex. Allows us to know where
we are in space (I.E if we are sitting in a chair or standing up)
Primary visual cortex - Answer-Responsible for seeing and making sense out of
information. Vision. Near the back of the brain
Auditory Cortex (what kind of system does it use) - Answer-Directly related to our
sense of sound and hearing. Uses a low frequency system
Olfactory Cortex - Answer-Primary cortex that pertains to our sense of smell
Gustatory Cortex - Answer-Directly related to taste
Association Areas - Answer-Regions of cortex that combine information from other
brain regions. They are Multimodal: which means they allow us to further process
sensory information. (I.E they allow us to combine seeing and hearing to identify
something like a firetruck)
Frontal Lobe - Answer-Functions include: Planning, guidance, and evaluation of
behavior. Damage will affect a person's personality
Parietal Lobe - Answer-It integrates information to various parts of the body. Its
function also includes processing information relating to the sense of touch. Damage
to this (called hemineglect) can lead to someone ignoring one side of space
Purpose of Neuropsychological Assessments - Answer-Measure cognition and
behavior to infer brain function. Helps to understand, explain, and predict behavior.
So we can look at someone's brain and compare it to a normal individual's brain to
determine any problems
Different areas of functioning that can be assessed - Answer-General cognitive
ability (IQ) and several specific domains of functioning
General Cognitive Abilities include - Answer-Verbal comprehension, perceptual
reasoning, working memory, and processing speed
Specific Domains of functioning include - Answer-Input (perception), Attention
concentration and memory, Language Skills, Visuospatial skills, concept formation
reasoning and logical analysis, and output/motor skills
Input (perception) - Answer-This is hearing, feeling, seeing (A test would be closing
your eyes and being handed an object, then being asked to identify the object)
